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Name : Panathenaic prize amphora
What it is : A Greek terra - cotta muckle known as an amphora
Winning athletes at the Panathenaic Games received terracotta pots as prizes.
Where it is from : Vulci , Italy
When it was made : Circa 530 B.C. , during Greece ’s Archaic period
come to : Venus of Brassempouy : The 23,000 - year - old ivory cutting find in the Pope ’s grot
What it tells us about the past :
one C before runner draw up on the track to compete in the Olympic Games , athletes participate in the Panathenaic Games , an athletic festival guard every four years in Athens , concord toPanathenaic Stadium .
Unlike in today ’s Olympics — in which challenger receivegold , ash gray and bronze palm — each ancient winner received dozens of terra - cotta vases emblazoned with their specific sport and sate with Athenian olive oil , a extremely " valuable prize , " according toHarvard Art Museums .
The Olea europaea oil awarding render to Olympic champions occur from the consecrated Leslie Richard Groves of Athena , the patroness of Athens , according to theMetropolitan Museum of Artin New York City . In general , ancient Greeks consider olive trees " sanctified , " and they symbolized Zeus , the god of the sky and , later , the god of the Olympics , according to theJournal of Olympic History .
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This particular amphora feature a lineup of five moon curser during a foot race , a competition considered the " earliest known result in the Panathenaic Games , " according to the Met . Athletes competed amply naked , since they think their flesh might intimidate their rivalry , harmonise toSouthern Utah University .
The pot , which stand 24.5 inch ( 62 centimeters ) marvellous , is ascribe to " Euphiletos Painter . " This anonymous artist was known for an artistic production panache called opprobrious - figure clayware , in which matter were drawn in silhouette , consort to theBritish Museum . This is just one of the many vases awarded to the victors at the Games , with other pots featuring charioteers , archers and boxers .
