In Ancient Greece, the word agon means struggle, contest, or fight.
The Ancient Greeks would use the word agon during many different events and times.
For example, Ancient Greeks might have used the word agon when talking about a contest during a sporting event, horse racing, and in literature or music during a public festival.
No matter what the Ancient Greeks were doing, they would often view everything they did or saw as an agon.
They believed this because the Ancient Greeks believed everything had two sides, therefore, each side was always in competition with the other side.
The Ancient Greeks would even view a play as an agon. For example, an actor in a play has to memorize his lines.
This means that one side is the actor and the other side is memorizing the lines.
Memorizing lines can be hard for any actor, which means that the actor was in a struggle with the play while he was memorizing his lines.
In the theatre, Ancient Greeks had comedies which are now called Old Comedy.
This type of comedy was popular during the Fifth Century B.C. The Ancient Greeks would view the debate between two characters in the comedy as an agon.
For example, a contest or an agon could build between one of the characters and a choir or between two characters in the comedy.
In sports or athletics, Ancient Greeks held the Olympic Games. These Olympic Games are an example of an agon.
At first, these games were held in honor of Zeus. Similar to the Olympic Games which we hold today, the Ancient Greeks had running, wrestling, and long jump.
The winner of these games would receive an Olive wreath, which was placed on top of their head, like a crown.
Question and Answer
1.) What does the word agon mean?
a.) a struggle, contest, or fight
b.) running away from home
c.) the place Zeus lived
Answer: A
2.) Ancient Greeks would not view what as an agon?
a.) athletics
b) literature
c.) water
Answer: C
3.) What is the name for Ancient Greek comedy?
a.) Zeus’ movie
b.) Old Comedy
c.) New Comedy
Answer: B
4.) The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were held in honor of who?
a.) Homer
b.) Zeus
c.) Pluto
Answer: B
5.) The word agon comes from what word?
a.) agony
b.) against
c.) competition
Answer: A