What prizes did Olympic victors receive in ancient Greece?
Winners received a laurel wreath and an olive branch (a very prestigious honor at the time) and often quite a bit of money (up to 500 drachmas, a small fortune); vats of olive oil, a prized commodity; and possibly even food for life. They were the ancient equivalent of sports heroes; their deeds were preserved in odes and ballads, and sculptors would create statues of them (some of which still survive today).
