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The Panhellenic Games

of Ancient Greece

Date 29 April 2020

Have you ever wondered how did the Olympic Games come to
be? The Ancient Olympic Games, held in Olympia, Greece, were
one of the four Panhellenic Games in Ancient Greece. There were
many athletic Games in Ancient Greece across the
Mediterranean Sea, all of them connected with religious feasts.
But four of them transcended local borders and their reputation
traveled across the Greek world, becoming ‘Panhellenic’
(meaning “all-Greeks”). Let’s find out more about them!

A section of the stone starting line at Olympia, which has a groove for each foot - Credit: Jamesscottbrown / [CC BY 3.0]

1. The Games
Sports competitions in Ancient Greece were countless and could be found in every corner of the
Mediterranean, where the Greek civilization flourished. Every city-state would host a sports competition
along with their religious holidays, making sure to honor their Gods and raise their prestige, political and
ideological, and income at the same time. Those Sacred Games have been one of the most important
institutions in Ancient Greece, with their impact being visible to the whole Greek world across time. All four
of the Panhellenic Games offered the same prize for the winners: a simple wreath of the sacred tree of the
respective patron God.

Three runners
featured on an Attic
black-figured
Panathenaic prize
amphora, 332-333 BC
Credits: British
Museum / [CC BY 2.5]

Olympic Games
The ancient Olympic Games were taking place in the sanctuary of Olympia, in honor of Zeus, king of the
Olympian Gods. There are many traditions and mythological stories about the creation of the Olympic
Games. One of them attributes the establishment of the Games to Hercules, one of Zeus’ demigod sons and
the most famous Greek hero; another to Pelops, the King that gave his name to Peloponnese; and another
to Zeus himself. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC and were held every 4 years after that. At first,
they consisted of only one contest, the race (Stadio). Steadily, more and more contests were added like the
pentathlon, wrestling, boxing, chariot race, pankration and others. The prize for the victors was a wreath of
oleaster (wild olive). One month before the start of the Games, the coordinators would proclaim the sacred
truce. Wars would cease during that period, to allow athletes and spectators to travel to Olympia for the
Games. The Olympic Games were, without a doubt, the most important Sacred Games of Ancient Greece
and their reputation spread quickly throughout the Greek world. Soon, the Olympics became the symbol of
Panhellenic unity. As time went on, Olympia's political position and importance expanded. From a simple
place of worship, it evolved into a sanctuary full of elaborate temples, with thousands of people traveling
there to worship Zeus and be part of the prestigious Games. The Olympiad was one of the ways the Ancient
Greeks measured time, using the year of each Olympic Games as a starting point. The institution of the
Olympic Games lasted for more than 1000 years, until in 394 AD, the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I
banned all pagan festivals. The Games were revived in 1896 and the first modern Olympic Games were held
in Athens, after about 14 centuries.

Hint! Today, Ancient Olympia is one of the most famous archeological sites in Greece and it is even possible
to run on its ancient stadium! Please contact us for more details if you wish to take a trip to Olympia or have
a guided tour of the site.
 The palaestra of
Olympia, a place
devoted to the
training of wrestlers
and other athletes
Credit: Bgabel at
wikivoyage shared /
[CC BY-SA]

Pythian Games
The Pythian Games were being held in Delphi, in honor of the Olympian God Apollo, the god of light, music,
dance and prophecy. According to the mythological explanation of its creation, Apollo saw Delphi as the
perfect spot for the establishment of his sanctuary. However, older Gods were presiding there and a
legendary snake, named Python. The Olympian fought against the serpent and won. This is how he got the
name Pythian, his priestess Pythia and his Sacred Games Pythian. Like the Olympic Games, the Pythian
Games were held every 4 years. The official start date of these Panhellenic Games was the age of 582 BC. At
first, there were only musical contests but later sports and horsing competitions were added. The prize for
the victors was a laurel wreath. The festival was held at the end of August and lasted for about 6-7 days.
The preparations for the Sacred Games would start 6 months earlier, with the 9 citizens of Delphi (‘theoroi’)
traveling across the world to announce the starting date of the Pythian. At the same time, the Sacred Truce
would start, which lasted for a year. No conflicts or armed robberies were allowed during that period, to
protect the 9 citizens of Delphi and the people that would travel to the sanctuary of Apollo for the event.
Any city-state that broke the truce would be immediately banned from the Pythian Games and the Oracle
of Apollo. Kings, princes and rulers across the Mediterranean world would travel for months to arrive at
Delphi and take part in the great festivities of August. Delphi was indeed the ‘Omphalos’, the center of the
world, a political, societal and cultural center of the civilized world of antiquity.

Hint! Visiting Delphi today is one of the most popular day trips from Athens. You can join a private Delphi
tour with an expert licensed guide and discover the ancient rituals you had to pass before asking for an
oracle from Apollo and the preparations for the Pythian Games!
 Related Tour

Delphi Guided Day Trip

from Athens
Learn more

Isthmian Games
The Isthmian Games were held in the Isthmus of Corinth, in honor of the Olympian God of the Seas,
Poseidon. The establishment of these Panhellenic Games was attributed to three different myths by the
ancients. One wanted god Poseidon himself to be the creator of the Isthmian Games, the other declared the
Athenian hero Theseus as the founder and the last one attributed the origin of the festival to Sisyphus, the
legendary King of Corinth. The first official games were held in 582 BC and were taking place every 2 years,
during Spring. There were contests like race and horsing competitions, and something similar to rowing. The
prize for the victors was a wreath made of pine tree leaves. There were also musical, poetic and painting
competitions. Corinth's geographical location and wealth contributed to the sanctuary becoming a major
religious center and the Isthmian Games gaining Panhellenic status.

Hint! Today, the site

is hardly visible since most of it was destroyed. It is located only a few hundred meters
from the Corinth Canal, so it is still worth a visit if you are passing by to enter the Peloponnese region.

The Canal of Corinth

Credit: Chris ww /
Pixabay

Nemean Games
The Nemean Games were held in Nemea, in honor of Zeus. According to the oldest founding myth, the
Games were founded by the seven Kings of Argos in commemoration of the death of a baby called
Opheltes. Another myth wants Hercules to be the founder of these Panhellenic Games, after defeating the
Nemean Lion. The most likely start date of the Nemean Games is 573 BC and they were taking place every 2
years, like the Isthmian Games, in July or August. The contests included competitions like race, boxing,
pentathlon, pankration, wrestling, chariot race and others. The prize for the victors was a wreath of wild
celery. It is of interest that during the later years of the festival women were also allowed to compete in the
games. Today, there is a movement to try and revive the Nemean Games in the modern world. The Society
for the Revival of the Nemean Games is working towards that end and are organizing every 4 years the
modern Nemean Games at their birthplace. The modern games are open to all people, not just elite
athletes, and include ancient athletic competitions.

Hint! The stadium and the colossal Temple of Zeus can be visited today and makes for a perfect day trip
from Athens. The Nemea region produces some of the most famous Greek wines and you can combine the
cultural trip with a wine tasting experience in one of the estates in the area. We will be happy to create a
bespoke travel itinerary for Nemea and arrange a guided trip for you. Please contact us for more details.

Entrance tunnel from

where the athletes
entered to the stadium
of Nemea
Credit: Haris Andronos
/ Adobe Stock

2. The Participants
The Panhellenic Games were closely linked to the religious festivals of the ancients, who also included
sacrifices to their gods and honored their dead. This is why they are also known as Sacred Games.
Participating in the games was not regarded as a profession but it was considered a great honor to win the
Games. The victors were considered local heroes, bringing pride to their town or village. Athletes were also
called fighters. Every fighter had their opponent, the competitor. There were also people in charge of
supervising and coordinating the games that were called Ellanodikes. And so the games began!
 Pankration scene: the
pankriatiast on the
right tries to gouge his
opponent's eye; the
umpire is about to
strike him for this foul.
Detail from an Attic
red-figure kylix c.
490-480 BC
Credit: Marie-Lan
Nguyen / Wikimedia
Commons

3. The Stadiums
The venues of the Panhellenic Games did not look much different than today. Each Game had its stadium
(Stadio). Ancient Greeks used the stadium as a measuring distance, so it became equivalent to the building
where spectators watched sporting events. Initially, the stadiums were simple, sometimes built near slopes to
give viewers a clear view of the events. However, from the beginning of the 5th century BC, stadiums started
to become more elaborate. First, artificial embankments (slopes) were added and later stone or marble
docks (seats) for more comfort. Today, thanks to the archaeological excavations, we can admire these
magnificent stadiums. Travelers can visit the stadium of the Olympic Games in Olympia, the one of the
Isthmian Games in Delphi, the Nemean Games’ in Ancient Nemea and the Isthmian’s in Isthmus of Corinth.
An ancient stadium that is still used today for events is the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, which is also
accessible. It is the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble and someone can feel like a spectator
or an athlete of the Ancient Games just by walking on it.

The stadium of the

Pythian Games in
Delphi
Credit: David
Monniaux
4. The Sports
Representatives of each Greek city-state or town accompanied the athletes who went to compete. The
sports in the four Panhellenic Games were almost the same. This was because they all copied the contests
of the Olympic Games and were steadily adopting small changes or innovations according to the
peculiarities of each festival. The most important sports were the race, pentathlon, long jump, discus throw,
javelin throw, wrestling, boxing, pankration and horse races. It is interesting to note that some of those
sports were gymnikoi (meaning ‘nudist’). The athletes were competing completely naked. Rumor has it that:

The Greeks initially participated in the races covered, wearing cloths around their waists. Later, however, someone
threw his cover away and won! So, considering it good luck, others followed him, and the institution of all naked
races was established. The races were then called gymnikoi - which is where modern "gymnastics" comes from.

However, the real explanation must be closer to what the ancient Greek historian Thucydides wrote.
According to him, competing naked was a show of civility in the face of the barbarism displayed by Greece’s
enemy of the East, Persia. To Thucydides and many other later writers and artists, the athletic body was a
symbol of Greek civilization, freedom, superiority and, most importantly, control.

Pankration
Credit: Metropolitan
Museum of Art / [CC
BY 2.5]

5. The Victors
The victors of the Panhellenic Games did not receive any monetary rewards. The only reward for the victors
was a wreath, made from the sacred tree of each god. For the Olympic Games it was a wreath of oleaster
(wild olive); for the Pythian Games a laurel wreath; for the Isthmian Games a wreath made from pine tree
leaves; and for the Nemean Games a wreath of wild celery. Besides that, the victors were gaining fame and
were well-respected and honored by their respective lands. Poets like Pindaros dedicated poems to victors
of the Games and sculptors carved their statues. To gain that fame and honor, even the archontes (the men
with the means and power) and kings would enter the competitions in order to claim a wreath! But winning
at the contests was not easier than it is today. According to the words of Epictetus, a Greek Stoic
philosopher:

“So you wish to conquer in the Olympic Games, my friend? And I, too... But first mark the conditions and the
consequences. You will have to put yourself under discipline; to eat by rule, to avoid cakes and sweetmeats; to take
exercise at the appointed hour whether you like it or not, in cold and heat; to abstain from cold drinks and wine at
your will. Then, in the conflict itself you are likely enough to dislocate your wrist or twist your ankle, to swallow a
great deal of dust, to be severely thrashed, and after all of these things, to be defeated.”
 Related Tour

Tailor-Made
Panhellenic Games
Travel Itinerary
Learn more

Ifyou wish to discover more about Ancient Greek culture and institutions, you can visit our Blog When
.

planning a trip to Delphi, home to the Isthmian Games, make sure to read our 10 things to do in Delphi to ,

get valuable insights about the home of Apollo. You are welcome to contact us and let our local expert team
create a travel itinerary tailored to your interests and schedule.

*Main photo: The "Discobolus" is a copy of a Greek statue c. 5th century BC. It represents an ancient
Olympic discus thrower - Credit: After Myron [CC BY-SA-4.0]

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