The First Olympic Games: A Gruesome Greek Myth With a Happy Ending

After Pelops, son of Tantulus and grandson of the Greek god Zeus, wins the hand of Hippodamia in a chariot race, he decrees that Olympic games are to be held every four years.

Gr. 2-4. "Once upon a time, long ago in ancient Greece, there lived a man who was not very nice." So begins this colorful account of how Pelops was chopped up for stew by his father Tantalus, restored to life by the infuriated gods and, thanks to a little sabotage, went on to win both Princess Hippodamia and the kingdom of Elis in a horse race--in memory of which he (supposedly) organized the Olympic Games. Although the illustrations, contributed by Kat Thacker, are pale, static scenes of figures in stylized poses and with pouty rosebud lips, the vividly told story will sweep children along and give them an interesting perspective on the Olympics. Pair it with accounts of the ancient Games' events, such as Richard Wolff's Ancient Greek Olympics [BKL Ja 1 & 15 00]. John Peters
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