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The history of olympic games essay
Essay on the history of the Olympic Games
Essay on the history of the Olympic Games
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Spectators from all over the world have gathered together on one stage, leaving no seat empty in the grand arena. Cheers could be heard from all over the stadium as athletes from different towns and cities come out. These people, trained and ready, have come from throughout the land, gathered together in one spot to compete against one another. This was no simple competition. Not only is it for the people, but it is also for the gods, to see who will be declared victor amongst those who call themselves the finest over the rest. The moment the runner wielding the torch enters the stadium, everyone waits and watches in earnest anticipation. The cauldron is lit by the Olympic flame and the arena thunders with applause and hurrahs. The games have begun. The ancient Olympic Games are heralded divine because it was dedicated one of the Greek’s most important gods, the almighty Zeus, and the cooperative time it created of no conflict amongst the fighting Greek city-states. Despite the role it played in uniting the city-states together, it eventually went away due to natural and human intervention. However, it has been brought back in the name of the modern day Olympics, which to this day, has recreated that sense of peace ancient Greece was able to achieve in the days of its golden age. The ancient Greek Olympic Games were not ordinary games like the modern day games. These games were held in honor of the Greek gods, particularly Zeus, to the point the games were held in his sanctuary in Olympia for “ten centuries, [from 776 B.C to A.D. 394]” (Callebat 555). At the time, it originated from “funeral games, ritual dance and sacrifice, fertility ritual associated with the worship of Zeus” (Callebat 559). It correlated with the religious f... ... middle of paper ... ...ictors ““most happy”” (Kyle 37). To win by one’s own strength and abilities has to be one of the major, if not best accomplishments, these athletes ever achieved. This is confirmed by a saying in Homer’s Odyssey, “there is no greater fame for a man than that which he wins with his foot work or the skills of his hands” (Kyle 37). The sentiment would be shared between both the ancient Greek and the modern day Olympic athletes. The ancient Greek Olympic Games are said to be on par with the modern day Olympic Games, despite the cultural intentions they may have. They are basically the same at the core of their institutions. Despite the realized traits of these games, they have been able to create a unifying atmosphere, indirectly causing a pseudo-period of peace for all as the ancient Greeks and the modern world have come together to watch whenever these games appear
In ancient times, the Greeks had absolute and undeniable respect for their gods. They demonstrated their admiration by putting in place many rituals and celebrations to reverence the gods that they loved and feared in order to ensure harmony with them. In particular, the focus will be on the religious beliefs of the Greeks, including prayer and sacrifice, as well as on festivals and the arts, such as the ancient Olympic games and theatre. These aspects of their culture made a significant contribution to their quality of life. Moreover, these topics will be examined in relation to the twelve Olympian gods and their associates.
“It is universally accepted that 776 B.C. was the year the festival at Olympia, in honor of Zeus, became known as the Olympics, and the period of four years between celebrations became an Olympiad (Zimmerman 1984).” Yet the precise circumstances surrounding the creation of the ancient Olympics are still shrouded in mystery. Several myths encompassin...
modern Olympics were a vision of one man who had strived to see a unity that can only be
time to time the Greeks held ceremonies of Games in honor of their god Zeus.
Modern Day Olympics are a huge tradition that sweeps the screens of televisions across the world. Competitors take the arena with uniforms that dawn their countries colors and designs that are meant to resemble their designated flag. For months the news is centered around the games; the preparation, the athletes, and of course the competition. Countries aren 't obsessed, they are inspired and full of pride seeing athletes from their country compete and show their incredible skill. This tradition dates back to ancient Greece where the games began. Tony Perrottet writes about the traditions of the ancient game in his book The Naked Olympics.
These athletes would not have trained in a public gymnasium, rather a private one with a trainer, probably a former professional athlete. The athlete does not work nor fight in war. More than likely became estranged with most of his fellow Greeks while growing up, except maybe other aristocrats and athletes. To the athlete, performance is vital to his self-worth. He knows his critics are right when they call him worthless to society. But, since he is the fastest runner or the best boxer, the masses love him. Until the day he loses the race or the match. He is humiliated. How could he go on when everyone in his city-state knows he is no longer the fastest or the strongest? Just like the story of the retired athlete Timanthes and his bow. Once he has lost his ability to draw the string back; he has lost his will to live. so he lit a fire and threw himself alive onto it. This sentiment was likelt shared with many athletes whose only purpose was to perform in front of crowds. Once they were out performed by the better man, they lost the only purpose they had in their community. Once the athlete is no longer a great runner or fighter, he has lost his place in front of the eyes of his fellow Greek men, thus has no longer any purpose within his society. To the athlete, sport is not democratic, it is
5. The Olympic Games were closely tied to the religious festivals of the cult of Zeus, but were not an integral part of any particular rite. They indeed had a secular character and aimed to show the physical abilities and the evolution of the performances accomplished by the youths of greece. They also encouraged good relations between the cities of Greece. Many specialists speculate that the Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to
The Olympic Games were started by the Greeks a long time ago. It was in the honor of Zeus, the kings of the gods and were part of a religious festivals. They started in 776 B.C. The games were held every four years in Olympia, which is located in southeast Greece. People came from all around Greece to take part or just watch the games. Events in the Ancient Olympic Games were boxing, chariot racing, riding, pentathlon, discus, javelin, jump, running, and wrestling. Events in modern Olympic Games are swimming, diving,
These games were held to honor the Greek god Zeus. Athletes were to abide by the rules of the game in front of a statue of Zeus. Greek officials are sure to announce the games all across Greece in protection of travelers as a defense to any hostilities because they are banned during these events. Equestrian events Chariot racing drew in the biggest audience.
Politics were present at the ancient Olympics in many forms. The role of athletics and sports were just a mere form of training or military training for warfare for some city-states. As for Coubertin’s promotion of “international understanding” did not exist in ancient Olympic games in Greece. The Olympic truce was a mere misconception for promoting
Imagine that you are a competitor in the Ancient Olympic Games and you have been dreaming about winning them for many years to come. You are stretching and jumping to warm up and then the sacred stone is dropped. Your event starts, and you start sprinting as fast as you can. You are getting ready for your long jump, gaining speed you are approaching the jump line. You approach and jump 10 feet, 20 feet, 25 feet, and you land dropping at 29 feet, 6 inches. A rumble of applause roars over the stadium as all the attention is on you. The winner's crown is placed on your head. The mythical gods especially Zeus were the reasons that the games were held, wide varieties of people including rich, poor, and average wealth visited, and many events were held such as the pentathlon.
The Greek Olympic Games was very important to Greek mythology. Lots of people know about these games, but most people have no idea what made it popular, why they came up with it, and what events there were.
The Olympic Games, hosted in Olympia, Greece, reflected and represented many of Greece 's traditional values in their culture, politics, and social institutions. With the Olympics being the biggest event in Greece at the time, the occasion brought many new ideas and showed what the traditions and customs of Greece were really about. Through this big spectacle people learned about their own culture and went through many experiences ranging from listening to poets and praying at the Temple of Zeus to spectating the sport of “Pankration”, a combination of boxing and wrestling. They would even compete in the nude as a time-honored tradition. “...the practice [competing in the nude] also symbolically stripped away social rank, an extraordinary gesture toward a democratic sporting ideal in the status-obsessed ancient world.”(pg. 7) The Olympics
Modern Olympics vs. Ancient Olympics In Ancient Greek times, the Olympics was a yearly event, which took place. the whole preceding year to prepare for. Today the Olympics take place every four years and we spend the 4 or 5 years leading up to it to prepare. Then, the sand is ready. The ancient Olympics lasted for 5 days but today the Olympics last 3 - 4 weeks.
Introduction Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerce and politics. Well-known throughout the world the games have been used to promote understanding and friendship among nations, but have also been a hotbed of political disputes and boycotts. The Olympic games started thousands of years ago and lasted over a millennium.. The symbolic power of the Games lived on after their demise, and came to life again as the modern Olympic Games being revived in the last century. Both the modern and Ancient Olympics have close similarities in there purpose and in there problems.