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36:43
54:59
Empires: The Greeks - Crucible of Civilization
The Ancient Olympics
36:43 - 40:54
Examines the importance of the Olympic games in Ancient Greece, where over time men from any class could compete for heroic fame in a number of athletic contests - a precursor to the modern games.
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Video Transcript
36:43
year was 510 BC
36:45
and place the knees was now one of the most powerful figures in the heavens
36:50
he had lived up to the heroic myths had been brought up to follow since childhood
37:01
the Greek society was changing
37:04
the heroic earns the drove cleisthenes was no longer reserved for the elite
37:10
it was now permeating every level of Greek society
37:23
this is Olympia in southern Greece
37:29
here once every four years
37:31
man from across the Greek world would gather to compete in a vast contest of athletic skill
37:39
this was the ancestor of the modern Olympic Games
37:49
for the ancient travel writer pisani has
37:51
the Olympics were the highlight of any visit to Greece
37:55
many other sites to be seen in Greece
37:58
and many other wonders to be heard
38:00
but on nothing does heaven bestow more care
38:04
than the Olympic
38:05
Games
38:10
the Olympic Games were founded in 776 BC
38:15
two centuries before cleisthenes had even been born
38:20
then they had been an exclusive competition for the wealthiest of the Greeks
38:25
but by cleisthenes time
38:27
the games had evolved to allow anyone to take part
38:31
a nobleman could now race against a Potter
38:34
the king
38:35
against the fishmonger
38:37
the Olympic Games Were a chance for
38:40
any Greeks to display
38:42
the sort of heroic qualities
38:44
that the heroes of Homer displayed
38:49
the competitions had their roots from the skills required on the ancient Battlefield
38:57
Chariot racing
38:59
running
39:03
wrestling
39:04
boxing
39:06
but here there was no real prize
39:09
just a wreath of olives
39:11
and fame throughout Greece
39:23
a competitor would be surrounded by the largest gathering of Greeks
39:28
in peace
39:29
that he would ever experience
39:32
perhaps as many as 40,000 Greeks would gather
39:35
for the Olympic Games
39:49
Greeks would travel hundreds of miles to attend the Olympics
39:53
and during the festival
39:54
the land surrounding the stadiums would be covered with encampments
40:03
but the games were very much a male experienced
40:06
women were prohibited from entering the competitions
40:09
or even the stadium
40:16
but for the Greek man
40:17
whatever his origin class
40:19
to win here
40:20
would be the highlight of his life
40:23
you had briefly
40:25
A Moment Of Glory
40:28
of extreme Fame which is what the competitive culture of the Greeks valued
40:33
so highly
40:35
here the Greeks and perhaps found a civilized way to satisfy the heroic ideal
40:45
and build a meritocracy based on skill and ability
40:48
where anyone could win
