The Legend of Hercules

An Ancient Greek legend (a story that is not real) tells how Hercules founded the Olympic Games. Hera gave Hercules twelve tasks to do as a punishment. Five of these twelve tasks were defeating a lion, defeating a boar, finding the golden apples of Zeus, killing a bull, and cleaning out the huge, filthy stables for King Augeas. When Augeas tried to cheat Hercules out of his award, Hercules killed him and founded the Olympics as his victory.

The Olympic Games honored the God of all Gods, Zeus. They also honored Hera, Apollo, and some of the other Olympian Gods. Originally, all the Olympic games, except the horse races, took place near the huge, gold, ivory statue of Zeus.

When the Olympics began, they had only one event, a foot race of about 200 meters. Fifty years later, a second race of 400 meters was added. There were many other sports added after that. Soon the festivities were expanded into a five-day event.

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