The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games were directly related to Greek beliefs and values and were treated with great importance in Greek society. The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece while the exact date and reason is unknown. Physical fitness and mental discipline were idealized by the Greeks. They believed excellence in these areas honored the highest and greatest of all their gods, Zeus. One reason behind the origin of the Olympic Games involves Zeus. "It was said Zeus once fought his father, Kronos, for control of the world. They battled atop a mountain that overlooked a valley in southwestern Greece. After Zeus defeated his father, a temple and immense statue were built in the valley below to honor him. This valley was called Olympia, and soon religious festivals developed there as people came to worship Zeus and to approach as nearly as possible his great strength. It is believed that these religious festivals eventually led to the famed Games of the Olympics." (Scholastic). Being held every four years, this period became known as an Olympiad and was used by the Greeks as a time measurement.

Athletic competition was so important to the Greeks that the Olympic festivals were a peaceful influence on the war-like poleis. Even thought Sparta was well known for its strict and disciplined military training, it would wait until the Games were over before sending soldiers into battle.

Greek communities from all over the Mediterranean sent their best athletes to the polis (city-state) of Olympia to compete in contests of speed, agility, strength, and skill. Foot racing, long jump, boxing, wrestling, javelin toss, and discus throwing were some of the events included in the games. Winners of each event received olive wreaths and became heroes in their poleis. These games took place every four years (Bentley p148). The earliest recorded competition occurred in 776 B.C. The only event was the one-stade which was a 630-foot race and was won by a man named Coroebus. This was the start of the first Olympic Games in Greek history.

The Olympic Games were expanded from a one to a five day festival of athletic competition. The first of five days was spent on sacrifices. At noon, 100 oxen were killed in honor of a god. Athletes also made small sacrifices. The next day, the main event of the games, the foot race, took place in an oblong area enclosed by hills. There were 4 types of races. The stadion, which was the length of the stadium (192m), the 2-stade, (384m) a long distance run ranging from 7-24 stades long. The fourth and final type of race involved competitors wearing armor in a 2-4 stade race. This final type was used for military reasons. On the final three days of the festivals, boxing, wrestling, and a combination of the two called the pancratium,