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The Olympic Games, a grand celebration of athletes around the world representing their country in sports and competitions, is loaded with history from all corners of the world. The Olympic Games that we know of today originated from the Ancient Olympic Games that began in 776 BC. These games were extremely well-known and highly regarded by all people who participated in them. The games have many similarities, but they also have many differences.

At the time of the first ancient Olympics, there were three other types of celebrations that occurred during the 3-year period between Olympic Games. These celebrations, along with the Olympics, occurred in Greece. At that time, Greek life revolved around religion and sports and the games were for people to show their beliefs and honor the gods. Each of the different games were part of religious ceremonies that were celebrated locally in designated towns, and nationally throughout Greece. They were open to all people of Greek regions, not just from the area where the games were located.

The games were known as the Pythian, Nemean, Isthmian, and Olympic games. They were held in locations near religious sanctuaries and honored different gods. The Pythian Games were held in Delphi and honored the god Apollo, whereas Corinth held the Isthmian games in honor of Poseidon. Both the Nemean and Olympic games were held in Olympia in honor of Zeus.

In addition to celebrations and competitions, winners would receive special prizes according to which game they competed in. For example: in the Pythian Games, the prize would be an amphora, a two-handed jar painted with scenes from the events, filled with olive oil. Also, laurel wreaths were given to whomever placed first in the events. In the Nemean games, the winner would receive wild celery. At the Olympic Games, winners would receive wreaths of olive leaves, believed to be planted by Hercules, from behind the Temple of Zeus and floral tributes. The winners of the events in the games were highly revered by people from their towns because the games were very important at the time.

Even though women were not allowed in games until the 2^nd century AD, there was a separate festival honoring Zeus’s wife, Hera, that was for women to participate in. This festival was called Heria and the only event was a short race.

The Olympic Games were by far the most important and esteemed of the four games. The games took place every Olympiad, or four-year period, during August and September. Many people from all over Greece came to watch the Olympic Games, which were accompanied by many festivals and celebrations where merchants were able to sell many of their goods. The entertainment of these events included singing, dancing, public speaking, and poetry. During the time of the games large temples were built to honor the celebrated gods. A temple built in Olympia contained an ivory and gold statue of Zeus. This temple was at one time considered one of the seven wonders of the world.

During these games, a Sacred Truce was declared by all people throughout Greece. Because of the constant fighting between the many Greek provinces, this truce became a peace treaty that declared all battling between Greece’s City states was to cease for a month.

At the 728 BC Olympics, two longer races and sprints were added as events. By 708 BC the pentathlon and wrestling were added to the list of events at the games. The pentathlon consisted of five events that were running, wrestling, leaping, discus, and javelin. Later, many more games were added such as boxing, chariot racing, and special events for soldiers and heralds.

Obtained from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/sports.html

In 472 BC, the events were first spread out over a four to five day period, instead of a one day celebration. On the third day of the Olympic celebrations, 100 oxen were sacrificed in honor of Zeus. The games were originally only for free born Greeks, but as the Greek civilization spread the games drew many people from close cities and far away towns. Much like the athletes of today, competitors were supported by the governments of their countries and devoted much of their time for training and preparation.

The games were held without interruption for a very long time and the Olympics even continued during 480 BC while Greece was fighting in the Persian War. But, in 338 BC, Philip of Macedon and his army conquered Greece and took control of the Olympic Games. In Olympia, he built the Philippeion, a temple sanctuary for his family. He continued the games under his control and held political meetings at Olympia during the Olympiad.

In 146 BC Alexander, Philip of Macedon’s son, lost control of Greece when the Romans captured it and thus took control of the games. The Romans tried to continue the games, but the Olympics suffered a great decline in popularity and faced a dramatic loss of competitors. The Roman General, Sulla, robbed the Olympic temples of Zeus of all its gold and treasure during 85 BC to give Rome financial support during a war. During that Olympiad, Sulla moved the games out of Olympia for the first time and into the city of Rome. After several Olympiads with the games in Rome, the Romans moved the games back to Olympia to try to restore the Olympic games' popularity. The games continued to be controlled by the Romans in Olympia until the city was taken over by the Christian Emperor Theodosius I.

In 393 AD, Theodosius I closed all pagan centers in Greece. This left Olympia abandoned and open to attacks from surrounding areas. Invaders completely destroyed Olympia, and any remainders of the city were destroyed in fires and earthquakes. In 426, Theodosius burned down the famous temple of Zeus, which marked the end of the Ancient Olympic Games. Starting at 776 BC, and lasting until 393 AD, the ancient Olympic Games were a very important part of Greek culture and lasted for 1170 years without any disruptions or cessations.

Sources

Oxlade, Chris. Olympics. New York, NY: Dorling Kinderslet Publishing, 2000

Anderson, Dave. The Story of the Olympics. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. 2000

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Last modified: 04/02/08