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THE ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES
ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES
776 B.C. - 393 A.D.
HISTORY
According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 A.D. that all such "pagan cults" be banned.
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MYTHOLOGY
The oldest myth which concerns the beginning of the Olympic Games is that of Idaios Daktylos Herakles. According to other myths, Zeus, the father of humanity, fought and defeated Cronus in a struggle for the throne of the gods. Finally, the well-known demigod Herakles is mentioned he staged games in Olympia in honour of Zeus, because the latter had helped him conquer Elis when he went to war against Augeas.
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OLYMPIC TRUCE
The idea of a truce symbolises the spirit of the Ancient Olympic Games. Warring Greek cities assembled in ancient Olympia, where they realised they had more in common with their adversaries than they had thought.
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THE ATHLETE
Through the 12 centuries of the Olympic Games, many wonderful athletes competed in the stadium and the hippodrome of ancient Olympia's sacred area, moving the crowds with their great achievements. Although mortal, their Olympic victories immortalised them. Of the best athletes who left their mark on the sacred valley of Olympia, some surpassed all limits and became legends by winning in successive Olympic Games and remaining at the forefront of their sport for more than a decade. It is worth mentioning some of their extraordinary achievements, which, even by today's standards, would be the envy of athletes such as Nurmi, Zatopek or Lewis.
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THE SPORTS EVENTS
The ancient Olympic Games were initially a one-day event until 684 BC, when they were extended to three days. In the 5th century B.C., the Games were extended again to cover five days.
The ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The famous marathon race did not exist in the ancient Games. The starting pistol of the first Olympic marathon was fired on 14 April 1896 at 2 p.m.
Famous Greeks attended, or even participated in the ancient Olympic Games: the philosopher Socrates, Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle and even the father of medicine, Hippocrates.
The philosopher Plato (427-347) was a double winner of the pankration.
The 14 articles of the Olympic regulations included an article on corruption: any corruption of a judge or an opponent would be punished by whipping.
Some women, who were prohibited from attending the Games, did not accept this segregation and dressed up as men, at the risk of being thrown from the mountain of Typaion, as stipulated in the rules.
Sometimes the relationship between the athlete and his teacher was somewhat ambiguous, even amorous. This was authorised by the law, which imposed rather vague boundaries.
PHOTO GALLERY
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