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Quiz about Olympic Games Ancient History

Olympic Games Ancient History Trivia Quiz

How well do you know ancient Olympic Games history?

A multiple-choice quiz by rpeeves. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
rpeeves

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
245,218

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1108

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In what year was the first recorded Olympic Games held? Hint

766 BC

666 BC

776 BC

676 BC

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Question 2 of 10

2. Initially, women weren't allowed to participate in the Games. However, women could win the Olympic prize. In what event was this possible? Hint

Chariot racing

Stade race

Trumpeting

Pankration

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who is the only emperor to have been declared Olympic champion? Hint

Caligula

Tiberius

Varastades

Commodus

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Question 4 of 10

4. In what year did Theodosius I issue the decree which prohibited the Olympic Games? Hint

407 AD

363 AD

393 AD

332 AD

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was awarded to Olympic champions during ancient times? Hint

Wreath of olive branches

Gold medal

Wreath of gold filaments

Silver medal

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Question 6 of 10

6. During ancient times, whenever the Olympic Games were to be held, warring states would call a truce during the duration of the contest. This truce is called what? Hint

Diaulus

Ekecheiria

Pankration

Halteres

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Question 7 of 10

7. The pankration event, added to the Games in 648 BC, was a mixture of boxing and wrestling (similar to UFC type fighting). Which Greek philosopher was champion in this event twice? Hint

Aristotle

Plato

Sophocles

Socrates

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Question 8 of 10

8. The marathon event in commemoration of the Greeks' victory over the Persians in 490 BC in the Battle of Marathon, was included in the list of event in the ancient Olympic Games?

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was the only athlete to have won three events in four consecutive stagings of the Olympic Games? Hint

Nero of Rome

Leonidas of Rhodes

Herodoros of Megara

Milo of Kroton

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Question 10 of 10

10. The pentathlon, consisting of a run, standing long jump, discus throw, javelin throw and wrestling, was believed to have been invented by whom? Hint

Plato

Perseus

Herakles

Jason (of the Argonauts fame)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year was the first recorded Olympic Games held?

Answer: 776 BC

It consisted of only one event, the "stade" race (about 220 yards), and the first winner was Coroibis of Elis.

2. Initially, women weren't allowed to participate in the Games. However, women could win the Olympic prize. In what event was this possible?

Answer: Chariot racing

Oddly enough, in chariot racing it is not the driver who is given the prize, but the owner of the chariot and horses. So, women could (and have) been declared Olympic champions, even though they weren't even allowed in the stadium.

3. Who is the only emperor to have been declared Olympic champion?

Answer: Tiberius

Emperor Nero was declared the winner of the chariot race in 67 AD even though he was thrown from the chariot and did not finish (on the basis he would've won if he's stayed on). His win was expunged from the record after his death (he dies a year latwr).
Tiberius won the chariot race in 17 AD.

4. In what year did Theodosius I issue the decree which prohibited the Olympic Games?

Answer: 393 AD

Emperor Theodisius I included the Olympic Games in his decree of banning Pagan cults.

5. What was awarded to Olympic champions during ancient times?

Answer: Wreath of olive branches

While champions were only given a crown of olive branches, they were richly rewarded by their cities or states. It included being given a lifetime pension to great monetary rewards.

6. During ancient times, whenever the Olympic Games were to be held, warring states would call a truce during the duration of the contest. This truce is called what?

Answer: Ekecheiria

Ekecheiria means "lift your hands". This truce allowed participants to safely compete or attend the Olympic Games, and return to their respective cities and states. Diaulus was a foot race equal to two stades or 440 yards. The pankration was a mixture of boxing and wrestling. Halteres were the hand-held weights during jumping events.

7. The pankration event, added to the Games in 648 BC, was a mixture of boxing and wrestling (similar to UFC type fighting). Which Greek philosopher was champion in this event twice?

Answer: Plato

Other famous Greeks have either attended or competed in the Olympic Games (such as Aristotle, Pythagoras, Socrates and even Hippocrates, the father of medicine), but only Plato is a double Olympic champion in the pankration event.

8. The marathon event in commemoration of the Greeks' victory over the Persians in 490 BC in the Battle of Marathon, was included in the list of event in the ancient Olympic Games?

Answer: False

The marathon, proposed by Frenchman Michel Breal, was only included into the Olympic Games in 1896, where a Greek, Spyridon Louis, won.

9. Who was the only athlete to have won three events in four consecutive stagings of the Olympic Games?

Answer: Leonidas of Rhodes

Leonidas of Rhodes won the stade race(220 yards), the diaulus (two stades or 440 yards), and the hoplitodromos (a race while dressed in full armor of a hoplite (soldier))events in four Olympic Games, in 164, 160, 156, and 152 BC.

10. The pentathlon, consisting of a run, standing long jump, discus throw, javelin throw and wrestling, was believed to have been invented by whom?

Answer: Jason (of the Argonauts fame)

Introduced in 708 BC, the pentathlon was said to have been invented by Jason (of the Golden Fleece fame), by combining all these events into one in a contest against his friend, Peleus.

Source: Author rpeeves

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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