Ancient Olympics
Did you know that the Olympics used to only contain six events or that there were three other games a lot like the Olympics? Of course, they started in Greece, but they were a lot different than they are now. Compared to now, how they competed, the sports involved, where they took place and who was allowed to compete was very different.
The Olympics were one of the four Greek games: Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian and Nemean. The Olympics were at Olympia, the Isthmian at Corinth, the Pythian at Delphi and the Nemean were at Nemea. The Olympics were the most famous of the four because they had been around 200 years longer, and had gained more popularity.
The Olympics were made up of six events: boxing, wrestling, pankration (combination of both,) equestrian events (horse and chariot racing,) the pentathlon and running.
The winners of the games didn't win fancy things or money. All they would receive was a wreath-crown, made up of wild olive leaves. This was because the Olympics were seen as a religious event. They were held, and the athletes competed, in honor of Zeus. Zeus was the ruler of mortal and immortal life. They did not compete to prevail for fancy prizes.
The first Olympics were held in 776 BC. Then they were held every four years after that, in the summer. A month before they would start, envoys (messengers) were sent out to invite cities to come. A truce on war was declared, so that athletes could arrive safely.
The events were held over five days. The first day was devoted to sacrifice. The second day was running. On days following there would be wrestling, boxing and pankration. After were the equestrian events, and finally, the pentathlon.
The Olympics were held at the Sanctuary of Zeus, at the foundation of Mt. Olympus. There were six events involved in the Olympics. Some events were made up of more than one sport. The events were:
Pentathlon, every athlete had to compete in all five sports. It included:
1. The footrace, which could be up to 360 meters.
2. Discus throwing, where the athlete would throw a round, bronze plate.
3. Javelin throwing, where they threw a long stick with pointed ends which was used for hunting.
4. The long jump, in which they jumped from a standing position, and were measured for distance.
5. Wrestling
The other events were: foot races, wrestling, boxing, pankration (combination of both wrestling and boxing) and equestrian events, which were horse racing and chariot racing. Usually only prosperous athletes competed in the equestrian sports because you had to own your own horse.
Only Greeks were allowed to compete in the Olympic games. They also had to be free, not enslaved. The athletes were not famous and grand. They were ordinary citizens. They would practice the sports in gyms, so that they would be ready for the preliminary contests that would eliminate athletes. Women were only allowed to compete in equestrian events. Married women couldn't compete in anything. Cheaters were fined, and the money was used to make statues of Zeus, that were erected on the way to the temple.
The winners of the Olympic games won fame and glory for their hometowns. Sometimes the towns would reward their winner by making a statue of them, or allowing them to have free meals for as long as they lived, and sometimes even tax breaks.
In 393 BC, the games were ended by the emperor at that time, Theodosius. 2,289 years later (1896) they began again, and all countries could participate. In 1913 the Olympic flag was created, with five rings printed on it, which represented the five continents that participated.
As a result of the Olympics of 776 BC to 393 BC, the Olympics grew to be larger, and include more sports and events. Now we have summer and winter Olympics, each one held every four years. Even though the ancient and modern Olympics are quite different from length to sports involved, they are still the same games that have been around for over 2,000 years.
My resources:
Judith Crosher, The Greeks
Encarta, Ancient Greece, "The Olympian Games"
Vicky Shiotsu, Greece
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/index.html
http://www.froeschl.priv.at/trips.html
www.sacredsites.com/ 1st30/mtolympu.html
members.tripod.co.uk/caingram/ Greece/Pic-htm/olympus-1.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1556/midi.htm#tvmovie
http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21107a/e211ga02.html