Picture shows "Black-figured Panathenaic prize-amphora". Large storage jars filled with olive oil were given as prizes in the Panathenaic Games. The games were held in Athens, and were the largest of many local festivals. The oil was the valuable prize, rather than the container, but the vessels are extremely useful to the study of ancient athletics. One side has a standard image of the goddess Athena between two columns, while the other usually carries a scene of the athletic event for which the prize was awarded. At the Olympic Games the only prize given was a wreath.
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