Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GREEK INVENTIONS
1. OLYMPIC GAMES
The first recorded games were staged on the plains of Olympia in 776 BC. Dedicated
to Zeus, they lasted one day and featured running and wrestling. In 472 BC - with
the addition of boxing, the pancration (another form of hand-to-hand combat), horse
racing and the pentathlon (sprinting, long-jump, javelin, discus and wrestling) - the
event was extended to five days and held every four years.
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2. ATHENIAN TRIREME
Masterpieces of ancient shipbuilding (c.700-500 BC), triremes were the key to
Athens' naval strength. Approximately 40 m (130 ft) long and 5 m (15 ft) wide, they
were noted for great speed - up to 12 knots. The boats were powered by 170 oarsmen
seated on three tiers. Only one tier rowed at a time, alternating short shifts so they did
not exhaust themselves all at once. The vessels were also equipped with sails, which
were lowered during battle.
3. DEMOCRACY
Demokratia (“power to the people”) as a form of government was first introduced
in Athens under Cleisthenes (570-507 BC). All free, male, adult citizens of Athenian
birth were entitled to attend the Assembly - which met on the Pnyx Hill - and thus
participate in political decision-making. The Assembly gathered about 40 times a
year, and 6,000 citizens needed to be present to make a vote valid.
4. THEATRE
The earliest form of theatre can be traced back to an ancient Greek pagan ritual, which
developed into an annual drama competition in the 6th century BC (for further details
see
Thespis, 6th century BC
)
. Plays were performed outside in daylight in purpose-
built amphitheatres, and actors wore a range of masks to indicate different characters.
The oldest plays emphasize values such as Greek patriotism, reverence to the gods,
liberty and hospitality.
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