Exercise 9. Explain the words in bold and then match them with the best definition.
1. a figurine, 2. a metope, 3. a scenery, 4. a stadium, 5. a treaty, 6. an epic, 7. an orchestra, 8. ethics,9. hegemony, 10. monarchy
a) a course on which foot races were held in ancient Greece, usually semicircular and having tiers of seats for spectators;
b) a form of government in which supreme authority is vested in a single and usually hereditary figure, such as a king, and whose powers can vary from those of an absolute despot to those of a figurehead;
c) a formal agreement or contract between two or more states, such as an alliance or trade arrangement;
d) a large group of musicians, especially one whose members play a variety of different instruments;
e) a long narrativepoem recounting in elevated style the deeds of a legendary hero, especially one originating in oral folk tradition;
f) a small molded or sculptured figure; a statuette;
g) any of the spaces between two triglyphs on a Doric frieze;
h) the painted backcloths, stage structures, etc., used to represent a location in a theatre or studio;
i) the philosophical study of the moral valueof human conduct and of the rules and principles that ought to govern it; moral philosophy;
j) the predominant influence, as of a state, region, or group, over another or others;
Speaking
Exercise 10. Complete the text “The Olympic Games”, using words from the box. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary. Make up an oral summary of the text.
a) banned, b) competition, c) festivals, d) flowers, e) founder, f) olive tree, g) qualities, h) records, i) worship, j) Zeus
According to historical 1) ....., the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 AD that all such "pagan cults" be 2) ......
Olympia. Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese which, according to Greek mythology, is the island of "Pelops", the 3) .....of the Olympic Games. Imposing temples, votive buildings, elaborate shrines and ancient sporting facilities were combined in a site of unique natural and mystical beauty. Olympia functioned as a meeting place for 4) ....., religious and political practices as early as the 10th century BC. The central part of Olympia was dominated by the majestic temple of 5) ....., with the temple of Hera parallel to it.
The Games and religion. The Olympic Games were closely linked to the religious 6) .....of the cult of Zeus, but were not an integral part of a rite. Indeed, they had a secular character and aimed to show the physical 7) .....and evolution of the performances accomplished by young people, as well as encouraging good relations between the cities of Greece.
Victory Ceremonies. The Olympic winner received his first award immediately after the 8) ....... Following the announcement of the winner's name by the herald, the Hellanodikis (a Greek judge) would place a palm branch in his hands, while the spectators cheered and threw9) .....to him. Red ribbons were tied on his head and hands as a mark of victory.
The official award ceremony would take place on the last day of the Games, at the elevated vestibule of the temple of Zeus. In a loud voice, the herald would announce the name of the Olympic winner, his father's name and his homeland. Then, the Hellanodikis placed the sacred 10) ..... wreath on the winner's head.
Exercise 11. Divide the proper names listed below into the following groups:
a) playwrights, b) philosophers, c) historians, d) mythical characters, e) epic poets, f) leaders, g) sculptors, h) mathematicians