With the Paris Olympics in full swing, a collection of cultural relics related to the ancient Greek Olympics is being showcased at the Nanjing Museum in east China's Jiangsu Province.
The ancient Greeks considered the organization of athletic contests a sacred rite honoring the gods of Mount Olympus. The first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to the Greek town of Olympia in 776 BC.
In the exhibition titled "The Glory of the Aegean Sea: The Exhibition of Ancient Greek Civilization", various artifacts that serve as testaments to the Olympic tales from nearly three thousand years ago are being showcased. Among these exhibits are two bronze discuses.
"When I saw those discuses, I immediately thought about the ongoing Olympic Games. Discus throwing traces back to ancient Greece and has been a traditional sport. These cultural relics serve as a testament to the civilization of that period," said a visitor.
"The culture of ancient Greece was distinct from that of our country. Upon stepping into the exhibition, I was captivated by those items which have unique sculptural forms and patterns. They are totally different. I can appreciate the cultural treasures of another country without leaving China," said another visitor.
The exhibition will continue until October 20. About 270 pieces of exhibits are on display to showcase the historical evolution of ancient Greek civilization spanning over a thousand years.
Exhibition in Nanjing showcases cultural relics of ancient Greek Olympics
