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Ancient Olympics
Do you know what sports they had in the ancient Olympics? The ancient Olympics had a wide range of sports competitions including chariot racing and discus throwing. They were held at the same time as some other ancient Greek games, and are similar to the modern Olympics in some ways.
The ancient Olympics started in 776 B.C.. They took place in Olympia, near the site of a temple because Olympia was one of the oldest religious centers in Greece. The Olympics occurred every 4 years. In 394 A.D. a Roman Emperor named Theodosius ended the Olympics and they weren't held until 1896 A.D.. The 5 Olympic, rings resemble the 5 parts of the world that took part in the Olympics.
The ancient Olympics were in honor of the god Zeus. Zeus ruled the gods on
Olympus and he protected Greece. The Greeks believed that Zeus sent the rain,
wind, dew, and he was the master of thunder.
The ancient Olympics had a variety of sports. The pentathlon was the main
event. The pentathlon was a series of 5 events. The events in the pentathlon were
sprinting, long jump, which was scored by distance not height, javelin hurling, discus
throwing, and wrestling, which you were required to three throws of one's opponent. The
other events were horse racing which was not a popular sport, chariot racing, which
was a sport that only the wealthy people competed in because of the cost of the
chariot. The chariot racers competed on various courses. Pankration,
which was a single combat with a mix of boxing, wrestling, and judo. The only moves
that were not allowed were biting and gouging to eyes, nose, or mouth with their
fingernails. If you won an Olympic sport you wouldn't receive a prize except for an olive
wreath.
The only sports that women could compete in were horse racing and chariot
racing. If you were a married women you couldn't compete. If you cheated in a sport
the athlete was fined and the money was used to create a statue of what
consequence could happen to you if you cheated. The statues were located on the
way to Olympia.
The Olympics were in a 4 year rotation with 3 other main sports events. The other
events were the Pythian games, the Ishmian games, and the Newmean games. The
Pythian games were held near Delphi in ancient Greece. The Pythian games were in
honor of the god Apollo. They were held every 4 years. They were heldas a festival
of athletic competition. The Ishmian games were held on the Isthumus of Cornish.
They were horse racing and chariot racing. The Ishmian games were held every 4
years. They were a festival of athletic competition. The Newmean games took place
at Newmea, northwest of Argos, Greece in 573 B.C.. They were held for athletic
competition. The Olympics still stand because they started 200 years before the
other competitions.
The ancient Olympics had many fewer events. Only free men who could speak
Greek could compete in the ancient Olympics. Modern day Olympics have now come
up with 2 different Olympics, which are the summer Olympics and the Winter
Olympics. They are also each held every 4 years. Women can compete in the modern day
Olympics. The ancient athletes were required to train at Olympia for 1 month before
the Olympics officially started, just like modern competitors at the Olympic
Village. In the modern day Olympics, if you place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd you will get a medal .
In addition, the ancient Olympics were very cool because of the different sports
they had. It was very interesting because their were three other main events that the
people of Greece liked to see.
THANKS TO
Encarta 98
http://www.perseus.com
Judith Crosher, The Greeks
Pamela Odijk, The Greeks 1989
For making this page possible!!