How the Olympic Games were held in antiquity

The history of the Olympic Games originates in Ancient Greece. The first historical mention of this event dates back to 776 BC. It is interesting that the Olympic Games in antiquity were held not only as sports competitions, but also as a religious ceremony. Initially, the games were arranged every four years and lasted only one day. According to one of the legends, the first participant of the ancient Greek Olympic games was Hercules.

Ancient Greek Olympia was the only place where the Olympic Games took place antiquity. This largest sanctuary in the Peloponnese was chosen not accidentally - it had the form of a natural, natural amphitheater that was located among wooded plains and slopes, between the rivers Claudia and Alpheus. Thanks to the convenient location of the settlement of Olympia, participants from distant lands came to games on ships.

Historical documents show that the Olympic Games in antiquity took place only in peacetime - a month before the start of games, a truce was declared between all the warring cities, so that all participants could safely arrive in Olympia. Any city that violated the armistice law was punished by prohibiting its athletes from participating in further competitions.

In Olympia, not only the Olympic Games were held - the story tells that there was also an ancient Greek religious festival. During the religious ceremony, the people praised Zeus, as well as the fallen heroes. The games themselves began with prayer and ritual sacrifice.

In the year when the Olympic Games were to be held, in ancient times, messengers with torches were sent to all corners of Greece, who announced a truce. Many centuries later, the carrying of the torch became an inalienable ritual preceding the start of the modern Olympic Games.

Applicants for the championship in the competition could be only freeborn Greeks or slaves who received exemption and pardon. Sports competitions were arranged separately for men and separately for boys. The youths were grouped into several categories, based on their age, physique and strength.

Although women were not allowed to participate in physical competitions, they could show their skills in equestrian competitions, but for this they had to own a chariot or a horse.

The Olympic Games in antiquity initially included only five types of sporting events in their regulations: throwing a spear, throwing a disc, jumping in length, fighting and running. Subsequently, racing, chariot racing, boxing and pankration were added. On the first day of the Olympiad, religious ceremonies were held, as well as the ancient Greek athletes took an oath about observing the fair rules of the game. The competitions themselves began the next day.

Winners of the competition were crowned with crowns of olive leaves from the temple of Zeus. In addition, the winner could sculpt his own statue in Olympia. After returning to the native land of the champion, fame and honor were waited for - he received various privileges in the form of free meals and the best places at public events.

At the Olympic Games only the first prize places were provided, so sports in ancient Greece were cultivated and revered from the very earliest childhood, just like a humanitarian education.