Olympic Games in Ancient Greece - the most significant sports competitions of antiquity

More than two millennia ago, myths and legends composed about Olympia, it was glorified by philosophers, historians and poets. It was famous for holy places, temples of Zeus and Hera, historical monuments, the construction of which dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. Later, in honor of the Olympic Games, various structures were built and numerous statues were erected, including the famous majestic statue of Zeus. It was here that tens of thousands of Hellas residents gathered to become participants and witnesses of the largest sports competitions of antiquity.

The popular hero Hercules, the legendary king Pelops, the spartan legislator Lycurgus, the king of Elida Iphit - these names in myths and legends are associated with the appearance of sports competitions in the sacred Olympia. About when they were held for the first time, there is no unanimity. It is considered to be a reliable date stamped on a marble slab next to the name of the winner in a contest of runners. 776 BC E. Entered the annals of sports as the year in which the first Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece. About the day of their discovery and the beginning of a three-month ceasefire in Hellenistic cities learned from the messengers of the temple of Zeus.

For participants in the competition there were strict restrictions. They were only born free citizens of Greek origin who did not tarnish themselves by breaking the vow, dishonest act or other crime. According to the Olympic rules, athletes who announced their participation in the main competitions of the four-year period were given 10 months to prepare, and a month before the Olympics they were to appear in Olympia and demonstrate their willingness to participate in competitions. Women were forbidden to be at the festival in the sanctuary of Zeus, and, of course, the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece were held without their participation.

In the first thirteen Olympiads only runners competed for one distance, depending on the length of the step of the judge 175 - 192, 27 meters. At the fifteenth Olympiad appeared pentatlon, consisting of running, fighting, throwing a disk and a spear, jumps in length. After a while, the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece enriched their program with new competitions - fisticuffs and chariot races, harnessed by two or four horses. In 648 BC, the program included a pankration - the most cruel and difficult kind of competition, combining wrestling and fisticuffs. The Olympics in Ancient Greece also included racing and running in military equipment.

As an element of religious worship, the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece began and ended with religious ceremonies. Athletes spent the first day of games at the altars and altars of their patron gods, and on the final day after the awards were given, the winners were told the ceremony. The victory won at the Olympics was highly appreciated, because it glorified not only the athlete, but also the policy presented to them.

With the arrival of the Romans, the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece gradually lost their former scope, and soon lost their former importance. 394 was the date of the ban on games by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who saw a pagan rite at a sports festival.