The Olympic Games
With the Olympic Games soon coming to an end, I thought it
appropriate to give a brief back ground on some of the interesting
facts about Ancient Greece and how the Olympic Games came to be such
a big part of out sporting events today.
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.
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.
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 immortalized
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.
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.
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.
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