The First Olympic Games
In ancient Greece, there lived a man called Tantalus. He was half man and half god. His father was the great Greek god Zeus. One day Zeus invited him up to Mount Olympus, high above the clouds for dinner. When Tantalus received the invitation, he was very proud. "Dinner with the gods!" he thought. "What a grand honour!" said Tantalus and climbed up to the very top of Mount Olympus in his embroidered robes to dine with his father and the other gods. They had an exquisite dinner together. The next morning Tantalus lay in bed remembering the glorious evening. "I must return the invitation." "But what can I serve them? I must give them something I value more than anything." And then Tantalus had a terrible idea, a horrible one. He decided to take his son, Pelops, and chop him up and serve him as a stew to the gods. The gods, who saw everything, were furious. "How could he do such a thing?" they asked. "He knows we hate human sacrifice. We will have to punish him." As a punishment they sent him down to the underworld, where he had to stand in water up to his neck forever.
Meanwhile, the gods brought Pelops back to life. As a special present they gave him a chariot with a team of snow-white horses that could run faster than the wind. "Take these horses," said Zeus to Pelops, "and find yourself a kingdom, for you shall become a great ruler." Pelops thanked the gods and mounted his chariot and galloped down the dusty mountain road and out onto the plain. As he came around a curve, he reined in his horses, for he saw an old man dressed in rags by the side of the road. "Where are you going?" shouted the old man. "I'm off to find a kingdom," Pelops replied. "Then I have an idea for you," said the old man. "I know of a kingdom called Elis, where a beautiful princess lives. Her name is Hippodamia. The man who marries the princess will inherit her father's kingdom." "That sounds perfect," said Pelops. "There's just one problem," cautioned the old man. "If you want to marry the princess, you have to run a chariot race against the old king. If you win, you get the princess and the kingdom. If you lose, you get your head chopped off. So far, twelve people have lost." "I won't lose," said Pelops. "My horses can run faster than the wind." "But the king's can run faster than lightning," warned the old man. "I am not afraid," said Pelops. He thanked the old man and started off.
After many hours he reached the palace and wished to see the king. The servants led him to the king's chamber. There, he saw the beautiful princess, Hippodamia sitting next to the king. Her black eyes sparkled like stars when she saw the handsome young visitor. Pelops bowed low before the king. "I have come to woo your daughter," he said. "My daughter and my kingdom are yours." the king said, "if you win the chariot race." "My horses can run faster than the wind," said Pelops. "Mine can run faster than lightning," countered the king He had never lost a race. His horses were magic, and had been given to him by Ares, the god of war. "Tomorrow morning at sunrise," the king declared, "the race shall begin." Later that evening, the princess wandered out near the king's stables. She did not see the stable boy, who was brushing the horses' shiny black coats so they would look their best for the race in the morning. Hippodamia looked up at the starlit sky and said to herself, dreamlly, "Oh, I do wish my father would lose the race, just this once." Now the stable boy, who had always adored the princess from afar, overheard Hippodamia. "I can make her wish come true." he thought. After the princess went inside, he carefully took out the bronze pins that held the great wooden wheels on the chariot and replaced them with pins made of candle wax.
Early next morning, the royal musicians blew their horns. Crowds of people gathered on the lush green fields of Olympia. The king stood in his chariot, his helmet gleaming in the sun. He was hardly able to hold back his snorting horses. Pelops stood in his chariot. His horses pawed the ground. The signal was given, and they were off. "On, my fiery steeds," shouted the king. "Faster!" shouted Pelops. The crowd cheered. The horses galloped neck and neck, faster than wind, faster than lightning. Now, thought the king, "I will pull ahead and win!" He whipped his horses harder, but instead of speeding up, they fell behind. Something was wrong! The wax pins had melted in the heat. Suddenly the wheels flew off, and the king was thrown to his death. Of course, Pelops had won the race, so he would marry Hippodamia and rule the kingdom. But Pelops and Hippodamia were very sad that the old king had died. He had not really been a mean king, you see. It's just that he had loved his daughter so much he didn't want to give her away in marriage. So, before their wedding, Pelops and Hippodamia decided to have a great funeral feast in honor of the king. They invited heroes from all over Greece to take part in athletic games and races, in memory of the king's great chariot race. Pelops decreed that such games should be held every four years, till the end of time. And since the games took place on the fields of Olympia, they have been known ever since as the Olympic Games.
Pelops and his lovely Hippodamia went on to become wise and good rulers of the great kingdom of Elis. True to Pelops's decree, the games were held every four years on the fields of Olympia. But around 500 A.D. there was a great earthquake that knocked down the buildings and a huge flood that covered the fields with water and mud. They remained buried for almost 1,500 years. People forgot about the Olympic Games. Because no one could see the Olympic fields, many people believed the fields and the games had never even existed! Imagine their surprise when, in 1875, archaeologists dug into the earth at just the right place and discovered the ancient fields of Olympia, where the games had taken place so long ago. There was great rejoicing around the world and, with the help of a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the Olympic Games were started once again. And, today the Olympic Games continue. Every four years athletes from all over the world come together to compete in a spirit of peace and friendship. The games are held in different countries, and an Olympic flame is always kept burning in the stadium until the games have ended. This flame is lit from the rays of the sun on the Olympic fields in Greece.
(Adapted from: The First Olympic Games: A Gruesome Greek Myth With a Happy Ending by Richards, Jean and Thacker, Kat)
A. Complete the sentences with the words given below.
[exquisite, inherited, underworld, embroidered, stew, decreed, mounted, rejoicing, furious, lush]
a. We are having stew for lunch today. |
b. The demon was sent to the underworld for his disobedience to the gods. |
c. The sleeves of his coat were embroidered gold. |
d. Smita was absolutely furious at having been cheated. |
e. Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite. |
f. The prince inherited the kingship after his father's death. |
g. There was a great rejoicing when the Nepali Football Team won SAFF U-19 championship. |
h. The king mounted his horse and rode away from the palace. |
i. The government decreed that the following day would be a holiday on the occasion of Eid. |
j. It was wonderful to spend a week in the lush countryside. |
B. Write if the following statements are true, false or not given based on the information given in the text.
a. Tantalus' father Zeus was also half god and half man. NG |
b. Tantalus wanted to take revenge with the gods. NG |
c. The gods revived Pelops to rule in Elis. Fasle |
d. Princess Hippodamia was impressed with Pelops at first sight. True |
e. Hippodamia wanted to kill the king so that she could inherit the kingdom. False |
f. The Olympic Games were not held for about 1,500 years due to the fear of the earthquake. False |
g. In every Olympic Games the torch is carried from Greece. True |
Answer these questions
a. Who was Tantalus? |
Answer: Tantalus was a man who was half-god, being the son of the great Greek god Zeus. |
b. Why were the gods angry with him? |
Answer: The gods were angry with Tantalus because he served his own son, Pelops, as a stew to them, which was considered a heinous act of human sacrifice. |
c. What punishment did gods give Tantalus? |
Answer: As punishment, the gods sent Tantalus down to the underworld, where he had to stand in water up to his neck forever. |
d. What unique qualities did the horses of the king and Pelops have? |
Answer: The horses of the king were faster than lightning and possessed magical qualities, while Pelops' horses could run faster than the wind. |
e. What was the risk of proposing Princess Hippodamia? |
Answer: The risk of proposing Princess Hippodamia was that Pelops had to win a chariot race against the old king, and if he lost, he would have his head chopped off. |
f. How did the stable boy help pelops win the race? |
Answer: The stable boy helped Pelops win the race by replacing the bronze pins holding the wheels of the king's chariot with pins made of candle wax, causing the wheels to fly off during the race and resulting in the king's death. |
g. How did the king die? |
Answer: The king died when the wheels of his chariot flew off during the race due to the sabotage carried out by Pelops and the stable boy. |
h. Why did Pelops and Hippodamia organise a feast? |
Answer: Pelops and Hippodamia organized a feast to honor the memory of the old king who had died, as he had not been a mean king but a loving father who didn't want to give away his daughter in marriage. |
i. How did the events of the feast become the Origin of modern Olympic Games? |
The events of the feast, where athletic games and races were held, became the origin of the modern Olympic Games as Pelops decreed that such games should be held every four years, ensuring their continuation until the end of time. |
j. How is the Olympic torch lit? |
Answer: The Olympic torch is lit from the rays of the sun on the Olympic fields in Greece and is kept burning in the stadium throughout the games until their conclusion. |
Word Meaning
Greece /ɡriːs/ |
Ancient civilization and geographical region located in southeastern Europe. |
Tantalus /ˈtæntələs/ |
A character from Greek mythology, known for his punishment in the underworld, where he stands in water up to his neck and is unable to quench his thirst or reach the fruit above him. |
Zeus /zjuːs/ |
The supreme deity in ancient Greek mythology, associated with the sky and thunder, and considered the king of the gods. |
Mount Olympus /maʊnt əˈlɪmpəs/ |
The highest mountain in Greece, considered the home of the gods in Greek mythology. |
grand /ɡrænd/ |
magnificent, impressive, noble |
Very impressive or splendid. |
honour /ˈɒnər/ |
respect, esteem, recognition |
High respect, esteem, or recognition given to someone. |
embroidered /ɪmˈbrɔɪdərd/ |
adorned, decorated, embellished |
Decorated or embellished with stitched designs or patterns. |
robes /roʊbz/ |
garments, attire, clothing |
Loose-fitting garments or clothing worn as a sign of rank or honor. |
dine /daɪn/ |
eat, feast, have a meal |
To eat a meal, typically in a formal or special setting. |
exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/ |
beautiful, lovely, elegant |
Extremely beautiful, lovely, or elegant. |
horrible /ˈhɔːrəbl/ |
dreadful, awful, terrible |
Extremely unpleasant or disagreeable. |
Pelops /ˈpiːlɑps/ |
A character from Greek mythology, the son of Tantalus, who was given a chariot with magical horses and became a great ruler. |
chop /tʃɑːp/ |
cut, slice, sever |
To cut or divide something with a sharp implement, often in a swift motion. |
stew /stjuː/ |
casserole, soup, broth |
A dish made by slowly cooking meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in a liquid. |
furious /ˈfjʊriəs/ |
enraged, angry, livid |
Extremely angry or full of rage. |
Elis /ˈiːlɪs/ |
A kingdom in ancient Greece, known for its association with the Olympic Games. |
Hippodamia /ˌhɪpəˈdeɪmiə/ |
A character from Greek mythology, the daughter of the king of Elis, sought after by suitors who had to win a chariot race to marry her. |
inherit /ɪnˈhɛrɪt/ |
receive, obtain, come into |
To receive or obtain something, especially as a possession or right passed down from a previous generation. |
head chopped-off |
beheaded, decapitated |
The act of having one's head cut off, resulting in death. |
chariot /ˈtʃæriət/ |
carriage, vehicle, transport |
A two-wheeled vehicle pulled by horses, used in ancient times for transportation and warfare. |
galloped /ˈɡæləpt/ |
ran, raced, sprinted |
To run or move quickly with a bounding, springing stride, typically used to describe a horse's fast movement. |
reined /reɪnd/ |
controlled, guided, directed |
To control or guide the movement of a horse using reins. |
rags /ræɡz/ |
tatters, scraps, shreds |
Clothes or fabric in poor or worn-out condition. |
woo /wuː/ |
court, pursue, romance |
To seek the affection or love of someone, typically with the intention of marriage. |
adored /əˈdɔːrd/ |
idolized, admired, revered |
Loved, admired, or esteemed greatly. |
bronze /brɑːnz/ |
A brownish-yellow alloy of copper and tin, often used in the production of statues, tools, or ornaments. |
blown-down |
knocked over, toppled |
The act of being forcefully knocked over or toppled by wind or other external forces. |
buried /ˈbɛrid/ |
hidden, concealed, covered |
The act of being covered or hidden underground or beneath a surface. |
archaeologists /ˌɑːrkiˈɑːlədʒɪsts/ |
researchers, scientists, excavators |
Scientists or researchers who study human history and prehistory by excavating and analyzing artifacts and physical remains. |
rejoicing /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/ |
celebration, jubilation, joy |
Expressing great joy, happiness, or delight. |
lush /lʌʃ/ |
green, fertile, verdant |
Characterized by abundant vegetation and greenery, often used to describe rich and fertile landscapes. |
Olympia /oʊˈlɪmpiə/ |
An ancient city in Greece, famous for hosting the Olympic Games in ancient times. |
gleaming /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/ |
shining, sparkling, radiant |
Shining or reflecting light brightly. |
snorting /ˈsnɔːrtɪŋ/ |
snuffling, huffing, puffing |
Making loud and forceful breathing sounds, often associated with animals or people expressing anger, contempt, or irritation. |
pawed /pɔːd/ |
scratched, clawed, scraped |
To touch or scrape something repeatedly with a paw or hoof. |
fiery /ˈfaɪri/ |
blazing, burning, flaming |
Characterized by intense heat, flames, or passionate energy. |
steeds /stiːdz/ |
horses, chargers, mounts |
Strong and spirited horses used for riding or pulling chariots. |
whipped /wɪpt/ |
lashed, flogged, beat |
To strike or hit with a quick, forceful motion, often with a whip or similar object. |
funeral /ˈfjuːnərəl/ |
memorial, burial, remembrance |
A ceremony or event held to honor and remember a deceased person, typically involving the burial or cremation of the body. |
feast /fiːst/ |
banquet, celebration, meal |
A large and elaborate meal, often held for a special occasion or celebration. |
decreed /dɪˈkriːd/ |
ordered, commanded, mandated |
To officially order or declare something, often with the authority of a ruler or governing body. |
knocked-down |
toppled, demolished, destroyed |
Brought down or caused to fall to the ground with force. |
flooded /ˈflʌdɪd/ |
submerged, deluged, inundated |
Covered or filled with water, often due to excessive rainfall or the overflow of a body of water. |
archaeologists /ˌɑːrkiˈɑːlədʒɪsts/ |
researchers, scientists, excavators |
Scientists or researchers who study human history and prehistory by excavating and analyzing artifacts and physical remains. |
rejoicing /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ/ |
celebration, jubilation, joy |
Expressing great joy, happiness, or delight. |
Extra Questions to Practice
Expandable FAQ Section
Who was Tantalus in Greek mythology?
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Answer: Tantalus was a man who was half man and half god, with his father being the great Greek god Zeus.
Why were the gods angry with Tantalus?
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Answer: The gods were angry with Tantalus because he planned to serve his son, Pelops, as a stew to them, which involved human sacrifice.
What punishment did the gods give Tantalus for his actions?
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Answer: As punishment, the gods sent Tantalus to the underworld, where he was condemned to stand in water up to his neck for eternity.
What unique qualities did the horses of King Oenomaus possess?
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Answer: The horses of King Oenomaus were magical and could run faster than lightning.
What unique qualities did Pelops' horses possess?
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Answer: Pelops' horses were given to him by the gods and could run faster than the wind.
What was the risk involved in proposing to Princess Hippodamia?
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Answer: The risk was that in order to marry Princess Hippodamia, Pelops had to win a chariot race against King Oenomaus, with the consequence of losing being the loss of his own life.
How did the stable boy assist Pelops in winning the race?
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Answer: The stable boy replaced the bronze pins holding the king's chariot wheels with pins made of candle wax, causing the wheels to fall off during the race.
How did King Oenomaus meet his demise?
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Answer: During the chariot race, the wheels of King Oenomaus' chariot fell off due to the replacement of pins, resulting in his death.
Why did Pelops and Hippodamia organize a feast?
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Answer: Pelops and Hippodamia organized a feast to honor the memory of King Oenomaus and celebrate Pelops' victory in the chariot race.
How did the Olympic Games remain hidden for many centuries?
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Answer: The Olympic Games remained hidden for centuries as the buildings of Olympia were destroyed by an earthquake and covered in water and mud.
Who invited Tantalus to dine with the gods on Mount Olympus?
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Answer: Zeus, the great Greek god, invited Tantalus to dinner.
What did Tantalus decide to serve to the gods as a stew?
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Answer: Tantalus decided to chop up his son, Pelops, and serve him as a stew to the gods.
How did the gods feel about human sacrifice?
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Answer: The gods hated human sacrifice, so they were furious with Tantalus for his plan.
What gift did the gods give Pelops when they brought him back to life?
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Answer: The gods gave Pelops a chariot with a team of snow-white horses that could run faster than the wind.
What was the condition for Pelops to marry Princess Hippodamia?
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Answer: Pelops had to win a chariot race against the old king, and if he lost, he would be beheaded.
What happened to the wheels of King Oenomaus' chariot during the race?
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Answer: The stable boy replaced the bronze pins with pins made of candle wax, causing the wheels to fall off.
How did King Oenomaus receive his horses?
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Answer: King Oenomaus received his horses from Ares, the god of war.
What natural disasters caused the burial of the ancient Olympic Games for almost 1,500 years?
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Answer: A great earthquake destroyed the buildings, and a huge flood covered the fields with water and mud.
Who rediscovered the ancient fields of Olympia in 1875?
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Answer: Archaeologists dug into the earth and rediscovered the ancient fields of Olympia.
How are the Olympic Games held today?
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Answer: The Olympic Games are held every four years in different countries, with athletes from all over the world competing in various sports.