Window into the Bible
Athletic Honours
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Gold Wreath of Olives and Olive Leaves
Date: 4th – 3rd century BC Place: Greece
Photographed at the M. C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Athletes at games would receive a perishable wreath of leaves. At the Olympic games, a victor would receive a wreath of wild olives. At the Pythian games the victor received a laurel wreath, at the Nemean games it was wild celery, and at the Isthmian games, celery or pine.
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A number of gold wreaths, resembling the olive wreaths of athletes have been found in wealthy tombs in Greece.
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Nike with Victory Wreath
Photographed at the Altes Museum, Berlin, Germany.
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The apostle Paul wrote:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 – 25.
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Gravestone of an Athlete
Date: 2nd century BC Place: Beyazit
Photographed at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Istanbul, Turkey.
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This is the gravestone of Hekatodoros’ son. It shows that the deceased won a torch relay and races in honour of the moon.