| Revision as of 12:48, 11 May 2004 editJeronimo (talk | contribs)8,556 editsm storing moved contents from Olympic Games here - will make this into an article | Revision as of 13:17, 11 May 2004 edit undoJeronimo (talk | contribs)8,556 editsm editing a bitNext edit → | ||
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| The '''Ancient Olympic Games''' were an athletic and religious celebration held in the ] town of ] from at least ] to ]. | |||
| Another legend says that ] had instated the festival after his defeat of ]. | |||
| == Origin == | |||
| According to yet another legend, King ] of ] consulted the ] (oracle of ]) to try to save his people from war in the ]. | |||
| The prophetess advised him to organise games in honour of the gods, it is thought that the festival also honored Athene, or the planet ]. This is shown by the fact that the early games were held at eight-year intervals, typical for Venus festivals, since eight terrestrial years equal five synodical years of Venus. Later they were celebrated every four years, or two and a half synodical periods of Venus. | |||
| The real origin of the Ancient Olympic Games is unclear, although several legends and myths are known about its origin. | |||
| ⚫ | The ]n adversary of Ipitos then decided to stop the war during these games, which were called Olympic, after ], the mountain on which the Greek gods were said to live. | ||
| The last version is probably the most accurate, although the Games likely originated from locally held games. | |||
| One of these legends tells of the hero ], who won a race at ] and then decreed that the race should be re-enacted every four years, while another claims that deity ] had instated the festival after his defeat of the ] ]. | |||
| Another possible source of the Games is the legend of ], who challenged his daughter's suitors to a chariot race and killed the losers. | |||
| The fourteenth suitor, ], cheated by bribing Oenomaus' charioteer, ], who loosened a lynchpin, killing Oenomaus. | |||
| Another origin of the competitions is said to be a chariot race, which was organised by king ]. He challenged his daughter ]'s suitors to a race, whereby he would kill the losers. The fourteenth suitor, ], cheated by bribing Oenomaus' charioteer ], who loosened a lynchpin, killing Oenomaus. Pelops married the princess. | |||
| Pelops married the princess, ]. | |||
| ⚫ | A fourth legend tells of King ] of ], who consulted the ] – the ] of ] – to try and save his people from war in the ]. The prophetess advised him to organise games in honour of the gods. The ]n adversary of Ipitos then decided to stop the war during these games, which were called Olympic, after ], the mountain on which the Greek gods were said to live. | ||
| Of these legends, the last seems the most accurate. However, most historians believe that local celebrations gradually evolved into the Olympic Games. | |||
| == History == | |||
| The Games were held in Olympia, a worshipping place for the ] near the town of ]. | The Games were held in Olympia, a worshipping place for the ] near the town of ]. | ||
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| The word ''stadium'' is derived from this foot race. | The word ''stadium'' is derived from this foot race. | ||
| The Olympic Games were held in four year intervals, and later the Greek method of counting the years even referred to these Games, using the term ''Olympiad'' for the period between two Games. | The Olympic Games were held in four year intervals, and later the Greek method of counting the years even referred to these Games, using the term ''Olympiad'' for the period between two Games. | ||
| == Events == | |||
| Over the years, other events were added: ], ], ] (combination of boxing and wrestling), ], several other running events (the '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''), as well as a ], consisting of wrestling, ''stadion'', ], ] throw and ] throw (the latter three were not separate events). The addition of these events meant the festival grew from 1 day to 5 days, 3 of which were used for competition. The other 2 days were dedicated to religious rituals. On the final day, there was a banquet for all of the participants, consisting of 100 oxen that had been sacrificed to ] on the first day. | Over the years, other events were added: ], ], ] (combination of boxing and wrestling), ], several other running events (the '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''), as well as a ], consisting of wrestling, ''stadion'', ], ] throw and ] throw (the latter three were not separate events). The addition of these events meant the festival grew from 1 day to 5 days, 3 of which were used for competition. The other 2 days were dedicated to religious rituals. On the final day, there was a banquet for all of the participants, consisting of 100 oxen that had been sacrificed to ] on the first day. | ||
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| * Roman influence | * Roman influence | ||
| </i> | </i> | ||
| == External links == | |||
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Revision as of 13:17, 11 May 2004
The Ancient Olympic Games were an athletic and religious celebration held in the Greek town of Olympia from at least 776 BC to 393.
Origin
The real origin of the Ancient Olympic Games is unclear, although several legends and myths are known about its origin.
One of these legends tells of the hero Heracles, who won a race at Olympia and then decreed that the race should be re-enacted every four years, while another claims that deity Zeus had instated the festival after his defeat of the Titan Cronus.
Another origin of the competitions is said to be a chariot race, which was organised by king Oenomaus. He challenged his daughter Hippodamia's suitors to a race, whereby he would kill the losers. The fourteenth suitor, Pelops, cheated by bribing Oenomaus' charioteer Myrtilus, who loosened a lynchpin, killing Oenomaus. Pelops married the princess.
A fourth legend tells of King Iphitos of Elidos, who consulted the Pythia – the oracle of Delphi – to try and save his people from war in the 9th century BC. The prophetess advised him to organise games in honour of the gods. The Spartan adversary of Ipitos then decided to stop the war during these games, which were called Olympic, after Mount Olympus, the mountain on which the Greek gods were said to live.
Of these legends, the last seems the most accurate. However, most historians believe that local celebrations gradually evolved into the Olympic Games.
History
The Games were held in Olympia, a worshipping place for the Greek gods near the town of Elis. Located in Olympia was a 12 m high statue in ivory and gold of Zeus, the main god, created by Phidias. The statue was one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World.
The first written accounts of the Olympic Games date from 776 BC, although it is sure that these Games were not the first ones to be held. The only competiton held then was the stadion race, a race over about 190 meters, measured after the feet of Hercules. The word stadium is derived from this foot race. The Olympic Games were held in four year intervals, and later the Greek method of counting the years even referred to these Games, using the term Olympiad for the period between two Games.
Events
Over the years, other events were added: boxing, wrestling, pankration (combination of boxing and wrestling), chariot racing, several other running events (the diaulos, hippios, dolichos, and hoplitodromos), as well as a pentathlon, consisting of wrestling, stadion, long jump, javelin throw and discus throw (the latter three were not separate events). The addition of these events meant the festival grew from 1 day to 5 days, 3 of which were used for competition. The other 2 days were dedicated to religious rituals. On the final day, there was a banquet for all of the participants, consisting of 100 oxen that had been sacrificed to Zeus on the first day.
The winners of an Olympic event were awarded an olive branch, and was often received with much honour in his home town (and outside). (See Milo of Croton.) Sculptors would create statues of Olympic victors (see Ageladas).
The ancient Olympic Games were abandoned in AD 394 by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who considered the Games to be a savage celebration.
It is often said that wars were halted during the Games, but this is not true; however, athletes, who were often soldiers, were permitted to leave the army to participate in the Games, and were guaranteed safe passage through enemy territory.
The Olympic Games were part of the Panhellenic Games, four separate games held at two- or four-year intervals but arranged so that there was one set of games every year. The Olympic Games were the most important and most prestigious of these.
more:
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- customs
- Roman influence