Ancient Greek Olympics

Every two years, in a different city the modern Olympic Games start again, with athletes all over the world participating in these grand events. The Olympics have been going on for hundreds of centuries, dating back to around 800 BC, when ancient Greek people wanted to express their gratitude to the gods. This became known as the ancient Greek Olympic games, which are the oldest and most respected athletic competition of all time. At first, the games were a religious festival praising and celebrating the gods of ancient Greece. When the first Olympic games were held in 776 BC they ultimately became an everlasting part of world history with its importance to Greek mythology, its sports events and the immortalized names of the victors.

In 776

The only events held were stadions, which are 200-yard races and wrestling. Back then the Olympic games were so important to Greek society, that at times it promoted Panhellenic (all of Greece) peace and prosperity. The games were held on Mount Olympus in Olympia, a city-state in the western part of Peloponnese that functioned as a meeting place for worshipping Zeus, Hera and other gods and goddesses. In Olympia, the Olympics were held every four years in mid-August or mid-September, only lasting for one day. As its popularity grew the games grew to a five day event. The ancient Greek citizens would hold festivals for the gods, the Olympic Games became one of the largest and most important of the festivals. “The Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to religion” (“Ancient Olympic Games”). The games made the Greek religion more well known as it gave it importance to their polytheistic beliefs. These games became so popular that news of this competition spread to other countries which peaked their interests in participating, later leading into the modern-day Olympic games. At these legendary games

The only rules for athletes to compete was they had to be non-enslaved Greek men who swore to not cheat or lie during the games and women were not allowed to play. On Mount Olympus the victor would receive his awards right after the competition by a Hellanodikis, a Greek judge, who would announce the winners name, the fathers name and their homeland. An olive wreath would then be placed in the victor’s hands. Spectators would throw flowers at them and red ribbons would be tied around the head and hands as a sign of victory. The first person ever to win the Olympic Games was a man named Coroebus, who won the racing events. A man named Astylos from the city-state of Croton won six olive wreaths for the running events. Milon, also from the city-state of Croton, won eleven wrestling events, seven Pythian events, nine Nemean events, ten Isthmian events and won innumerable times in small competitions. “He became a legend, known for his exceptional balance and strength,” (Stock). Olympic winner Leonidas of Rhodes won 12 victory wreaths for his skills in running. Melankomas of Caria became a well known athlete for his technique in winning many boxing events. He used effortless tactics that resulted with him rarely being struck by his opponent. The first woman ever to become an Olympic