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A Greek legend tells of the great Heracles (or Hercules, in Latin) who won a race at Olympia and then decreed that the race should be re-enacted every four years. Another legend says that Zeus had instated the festival after his defeat of Cronus. According to yet another legend, King Iphitos of Elidos consulted the Pythia (oracle of Delphi) to try to save his people from war in the 9th century BC. The prophetess advised him to organise games in honour of the gods, it is thought that the festival also honored Athene, or the planet Venus. 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 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. The last version is probably the most accurate, although the Games likely originated from locally held games. Another possible source of the Games is the legend of Oenomaus, who challenged his daughter's suitors to a chariot race and killed the losers. The fourteenth suitor, Pelops, cheated by bribing Oenomaus' charioteer, Myrtilus, who loosened a lynchpin, killing Oenomaus. Pelops married the princess, Hippodamia.

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.

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.

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