兒童英語讀物《神奇樹屋》第十六冊Hour of the Olympics 05 Hi, Zeus

"This is the very first day of the games," Plato toldJack, "the day of the chariot races.""Oh, wow," whispered Jack.

He couldn't believe he was going to see a chariotrace. The modern Olympic Games didn't have chariotraces.

They walked toward the race track. Plato pointed toa large building near the road.

"That is the gymnasium," he said. "It is where ourathletes train. They practice running and throwingthe javelin and discus.""We have a gymnasium at our school in FrogCreek," said Jack. "We call it a gym.""People all over the world copy us Greeks," Platosaid.

"Wait," said Jack. "I have to take notes for Annie.

He pulled out his notebook and wrote:

Ancient Greeks invented gyms"Okay, we can go," said Jack. He tucked hisnotebook under his arm.

As they moved along, Plato pointed to a beautifultree nearby.

"The olive tree is our sacred tree," he said. "Thewinners of the games will wear crowns made from itsbranches.""Oh, wow," said Jack. And he wrote:

olive trees is sacredNext they passed a beautiful statue of a lady.

Who's that?" said Jack.

Nike, the goddess of victory," said plato.

Jack quickly wrote:

Nike, the goddess of victory"Nike is important to the games," said Plato. "Butthe most important Olympic god is in there."He took Jack to a brick building with huge columns.

They stepped through the door. It was a temple. Jackgasped.

In front of them loomed the biggest statue he hadever seen.

The statue was at least two stories high. It was abearded man sitting on a throne.

"This is the temple of Zeus. And that is a statue ofZeus himself," said Plato. "The Olympic Games areplayed in his honor. He is the chief god of the Greekgods and goddesses.""Oh, man," whispered Jack.

"Yesterday all the athletes came here," said Plato.

"They swore to Zeus that they had trained for tenmonths. And they promised to obey the rules of thegames."The statue of the mighty Greek god stared down atJack.

Jack felt very small.

"Hi, Zeus," he said. His voice was small, too.

Suddenly, trumpet sounds came from outside.

"The hour has come," said Plato. "We must hurry.

The Olympic parade begins!"