Ancient Olympic Games

The Olympic Games were a series of athletic competitions in which some

representatives of each city-state of the Ancient Greece took part.

The Greeks gave them a mythological origin, in fact, the games used to be held in
honour of Zeus. Therefore, we can say that the Ancient Olympic Games were as much
a religious festival as an athletic event.

Artistic expression was also very important during the Games, so that lots of artists,
such as artisans, poets or sculptors attended the Games in order to display their best
works in some exhibitions and art contests.

The first Games took place in 776 BC and their venue was always the same, the Greek
city of Olympia. Did you know that these Games are nowadays known as the Olympic
Games because they were named after this city?

Now let me turn to explain the Olympic Truce. It was a kind of agreement among all
the city-states, which was aimed at stopping all the wars and conflicts, so that athletes
could travel safely from their countries to Olympia. As a result of this Truce, the Games
were regarded as a time of peace as well as coexistence.

Initially only free men who spoke Greek were allowed to take part in the Games,
although women were allowed to compete in some horse races in the last editions of
the Games.

The first Olympics only lasted one day. However, their length was increased because of
the addition of new events and competitions.

The last edition of the Ancient Olympic Games took place in 336 BC, but a French
nobleman, who was very fond of Greek history, decided to set up an athletic
competition based on these Greek Games.

This competition inspired by the Ancient Olympic Games is known as the Olympic
Games, and it is the most famous sporting event in the world.

The venue changes every four years and the religious meaning is missing, but there is
still a feeling of union and coexistence among all the countries and world population.

20/03/15