The Summer Olympics are here once again – a spectacular two weeks of athletic competition filled with tradition, including the passing of the torch, the parade of nations, medal ceremonies, and national anthems. But how traditional is it? Athletes in ancient Greece didn’t compete in togas and tunics; in fact, they didn’t compete in clothing at all! They raced chariots, avoided getting beaten by sticks, accepted awards of olive oil, and erected statues to their glory as well as their shame. Clearly, there’s a lot to learn and this episode strives to set the Olympic record straight.

Host: Andrew J. Falk

Guest: David Pollio 

Past is Prologue is a humanities podcast that provides the public with the background behind the day's headlines, and offers much-needed context to understand the significance of current events that people observe around them. It seeks to contribute to the public conversation in an engaging, informative, accessible, and constructive way. It's produced by the Department of History in the College of Arts & Humanities at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. We welcome your inquiries and feedback at [email protected].