Today, sportswomen and men receive beautiful medals in the event of victory, but that was not always the case… What were the rewards during the Olympic Games in Antiquity? The evening edition answers this “not so stupid question”, in his podcast meeting.
Today, if they win in their category, the athletes obtain the privilege of representing their country internationally and are also adorned with a beautiful gold medal, lustrous and sparkling.
A small olive wreath
But in ancient times, triumphant competitors received not a gold medal, but a small olive wreath, a symbol of honor and respect for the deities.
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According to the International Olympic Committee, the rewards were sometimes also material and added to divine recognition. For example, the victorious athlete could receive a red woolen ribbon called taenia or even a palm or palm branch, another sign of his victory. Despite this, it was the simple crown of foliage that was most desired in the Greek world, its symbolic value being unrivaled…
