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Ancient Athletics

Museum Assignment

Classical Studies 270/AAMW 413
Ancient Athletics

Assignment for Thursday, January 18, 2007

Go to the Ancient Greek World Exhibit on the third floor of the University of Pennsylvania Museum. Follow the directions below and write up the answers to the questions that are asked in this study sheet. You may e-mail these answers to me after you complete the assignment. You may do this assignment alone or you may do the assignment with a friend.

Go first to the Introductory area at the west end of the gallery (near the large map). Look at these Introductory cases that illustrate aspects of the Sub-Mycenaean and Early Iron Age, the Geometric period, the Early Archaic period, the Archaic period, the Classical period and the Hellenistic period. Read the panels and look at the individual objects. In these 6 cases you will find one object that has a clear athletic connection. Which object is this? Give me the accession number and the description of the object.

Immediately to the east of this Introductory area there is a ‘herm head.’ What is this monument? Describe it and the illustration of another example on its side.

The central aisle of the exhibit has on its south side (right side) an exhibit having to do with the ‘Gods and Goddesses of the Greek World.’ Read the panels, including ‘Greek Religion’ and give me the names of the 12 Olympian deities. In your opinion which of these gods and goddesses are most related to physical activity and athletics?

There are several vases that depict Theseus, the Athenian hero. What are these pieces? Give me their accession numbers and their description. Describe the scene of # MS 4833. Describe the two scenes of #L-64-185. How many images of Herakles do you see in the ‘Gods and Goddesses’ exhibit?

On the opposite side of the aisle (left side) you will see an exhibit featuring weapons, warfare, men and horses, hunting and men’s life. Read the panels of the Daily Life and Warfare exhibit. What is a hoplite? Who were the amazons? What is a petasos? Who was Xenophon?

Continue further to the east to the section, ‘Trade in Precious Oils and Cosmetics,’ and ‘Pottery and Trade’ on the south side and ‘Greek Burial’ on the north side of the aisle. In the exhbit ‘Greek Burial’ read the panel. What is a strigil? Why is it in this case? Where else do you find strigils in this Ancient Greek World Exhibit? Give me the accession number of one.

Under ‘Trade and Precious Oils and Cosmetics’ read the panel. What is the connection between the round aryballos and athletics? How is it being used in the photograph?

In the exhibit on the ‘Kerameikos Cemetery’ read the panel. Look at the grave monuments against the east wall. What is a lekythos? Return to the ‘Herm head’ in the center of the room and take the southern aisle of the exhibit and look at the cases that feature ‘Horse Racing at the Religious Games,’ ‘Track, Field, Wrestling and Boxing,’ ‘Votives and Sacrifice,’ and ‘Cult Statues.’ Also read the panel on the wall opposite, ‘Olympia and the Temple of Zeus.’ What is a quadriga? Where is it depicted in the exhibit? What is the accession number? Who was Philip II of Macedon? Which object in this exhibit is related to him? How do you know? Which object shows Athena driving a chariot? Give me the accession number and the description of the object.

Look carefully at MS 2444. What do you see? Describe all of the activities that you see. Describe the objects that you see in the scenes. What is on the ‘wall’ of the scene? Also look upside down at the scene under the base. What does that scene depict?

Look carefully at MS 403. Describe the scenes, including details. Explain what each individual is doing.

Look carefully at 51-32-1. What is going on in the scene on the ‘shoulder’ of the vase? What is situated between the two boxers?

Look carefully at MS 739. What is depicted here? Describe the scene.

Look carefully at MS 4872. What are halteres? Who is the figure on the right? What is he doing?

Look carefully at MS 2515. Describe the scene. What is missing?

Look carefully at MS 5693. Describe the scene. What is depicted on the wall? Who is nike? Where is she depicted?

Look carefully at 63-26-22. How was this utilized by athletes?

Now turn around and look at the panel on the wall that has to do with the Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia. What is a sanctuary? What is the essential feature of a sanctuary? What else do you find in sanctuaries? What are the main religious buildings at Olympia? What are the main athletic related buildings?

Further down the same wall is an exhibit on Greek Coins. Read the panels. How many different types of metal were used to make coins? Under the section ‘Myth and Foundation’ describe #2, the silver drachma from Knossos. Under the section ‘Athletic commemoratives’ describe one of the coins. What is the athletic connection?

What is your favorite object that you have looked at in the exhibit? Why?