Ancient Greek Bronze Olive Wreath

Bronze Olive Wreath, the prize of the ancient Olympic Games.

The olive wreath also known as kotinos, was the prize for the winner at the ancient Olympic Games. It was a branch of the wild olive tree that grew at Olympia, intertwined to form a circle or a horse-shoe. The branches of the sacred wild-olive tree near the temple of Zeus were cut by a “pais amfithalis” (a boy whose parents were both alive) with a pair of golden scissors. Then he took them to the temple of Hera and placed them on a gold-ivory table. From there, the Hellanodikai (the judges of the Olympic Games) would take them, make the wreaths and crown the winners of the Games.

An exact museum reproduction made of solid bronze. Comes with a marble stand.