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A game for
a God
Once upon a time the Olympics was an event that
started in order to honour the mythical God Zeus,
the father of Greek Gods. From the beginning the
Olympics was a local competition but later on more
and more Greek city states participated. 293 events
were organized during almost twelve centuries.
The Olympic area was a combination of temples, halls
and the stadium. The Temple of Zeus was one of the
Seven Wonders of the World with a 40 feet high statue
in gold and ivory of the god.
A game for
freeborn Greek
In a beautiful valley, at the city of Olympia in
the state of Elis, 320 km west of Athens, the first
organised Olympic Games were held 776 BC. The games
took place every four years and were open only for
freeborn Greek men. Most of the athletes came in
the beginning from wealthy families because they
had to pay their own expenses.
Before participating the Games all participants
had to take an oath that they had fulfilled the
training requirements which mean that they had to
train constantly 10 months before the Olympics and
had to stay 30 days before the games under the eyes
of officials in Olympia. During the Roman years,
Romans had the right to participate as well.
Women were forbidden to enter the stadium and one
reason could be that all the races were run in the
nude.
776 BC –
728 BC, Only one event
In the beginning there were only one event, a single
foot race. The race was called the “Stade” and was
the only event for 13 Olympics. An approx. 185 metres
race, the first times on a straight strip of grass.
The first athlete ever to win an Olympic race was
a young cook from Elis, named Koroibus who received
a wreath of wild olive leaves as his prize. This
prize was through the centuries not only an honour
for the winner but also for his family and city.
724 BC –
712 BC, More races
The straight “Stade” was changed to an oval racing
track and an one-lap sprint was called a “Stadium”
which name today is used for a sports arena all
over the world. New running events were added from
the 14th Olympics, two laps (approx. 370 metres)
and in the next Olympiad a 12 laps race. In the
16th Olympiad the long distance race 24 laps started.
708 BC, Other
sports are introduced
In 708 BC, at the 18th Olympiad, when more city
states participated, especially the Spartans the
first combat sport was introduced: Wrestling. At
the same games pentathlon were introduced: Jumping,
javelin, running, discus and wrestling, all performed
in the same afternoon.
688 BC, Boxing
is introduced
At the 20th Olympiad in 688 BC one of the most popular
Olympic sports even today was introduced: Boxing.
The gloves were made of straps of soft ox-hide.
The boxing matches had no time limit and ended if
the fighter fell to the ground or one of the fighters
held up one or to fingers to show that he admitted
defeat. There were no weight categories, opponents
were chosen by random.
680 BC, Equestrian
sports
Equestrian sports was introduced in 680BC. The stadium
was to small for the Four Horse Chariot Race so
the horse racing was held at the hippodrome next
to the stadium.
648 BC, Pancration,
a different fighting art
A new sport event that was introduced at the 33rd
Olympics in 648 BC, , which not exists today at
the Olympics, was Pancration. A combination of boxing
and wrestling, a sport of rather violent and unrestrained
nature in ancient Greece. The sport exists still
but today with modified rules.
632 BC, the
Olympics is extended
632 BC the Olympic Games was extended to
seven days. The games was still in honour of the
goods so the first day was for preparatory ceremonies
and sacrifices. The next five days was the competition
and the seventh day was the award of prizes and
the feasting. In 632 was also boxing and wrestling
contests for boys introduced.
580 BC, Armour
ruinning
580 BC heavily armed men was competing in Armed
Race, two laps around the stadium.
500 BC ,
50 events
There were more than 50 events.
150 BC, The
Romans
The Romans conquered Greek Empire in 150 BCD
393 AD –
394 AD, The last Olympics
In 393 AD the last Olympic Games at Olympia took
place after nearly 300 Olympiads and 1200 years.
. One of the first Christian emperors of Rome, Theodocious
I prohibited all pagan festivals and cults so the
games were disbanded in 394. The temple of Zeus
at Olympia was burned down by the decree of Theodocious
II.
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