Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Olympia: Warrior Athletes of Ancient Greece
Illustrator: David Kennett
Nonfiction
For ages 6 to 10
Walker Books for Young Readers, 2004 ISBN: 978-0802787903
There were small wars going on all over Greece in the eight century B.C and there seemed to be no way to put a stop to this bloodshed. Then the wise king of Ellis, King Iphitus, when to Delphi to consult the Oracle there, asking for help and advice as to how to put an end to the conflicts. The oracle told him that he must hold some athletic games and that these games would unite the people and stop the fighting, at least temporarily.
Iphitus followed the suggestion of the Oracle and it was decided that the games would be held in Olympia, on sacred ground. Olympia also had a long history of being a part of games and soon the little town became famous, for Iphitus' games grew in size and popularity. This excellent description of how the Olympic Games came into being goes on to explain how the games grew and what happened in Olympia when the games were held there. The rituals, the site, the rules of the games, and the games themselves are all described in detail. Large illustrations both in colour and in black and white fill the pages giving the reader a clear and lively picture of what it must have been like to be in Olympia thousands of years ago.
