The Winner Takes it All: Rome and the Games of Zeus
What were the Ancient Olympic Games? How did they inspire our Olympic Games?
This exhibition is about how the Ancient Games started in Greece nearly 3,ooo years ago, and how the Romans became involved and made them bigger, better and brighter.
How did the Emperor Nero win 1,808 first prizes at the games? Why was a crown of olive wreaths worn by the winners?
Come and discover the legend behind how the Games started.
The Ancient Olympic Games were not just about sport. Competitions were held for art, poetry and music too.
DID YOU KNOW...?
Breaking the rules at the Olympics was considered an insult to the gods.
Athletes would be whipped for cheating and had to pay fines. These fines were used to pay for a statue to the god Zeus.
Modern athletes swear an oath against using drugs to enhance performance. In the Ancient Games athletes swore to the great god Zeus against using magic potions, bribery or curses.
The Greeks used dust as an anti-perspirant.
After an athlete’s tunic fell down during a race all athletes who took part in the Ancient Olympics competed naked.
You can find out more during your visit by using Bluetooth on your mobile phone and using the words that appear in blue.
Ask at the front desk for details.