As a sacred place used regularly in religious ceremonies, as well as playing host to the Ancient Games, Olympia was at the centre of Greek civilisation. Renowned expert Paul Christesen gives Olympic. Ancient Olympic Games expert Paul Christesen reveals what life would have been like for the spectators at Olympia.
From taking advantage of the Olympic truce to hearing the latest works from the famous historian Herodotus and enjoying a giant, hour BBQ, it is easy to see why the Games were a key date in the diary for Greeks everywhere.
Through the 12 centuries of the Olympic Games, many wonderful athletes competed in the stadium and the hippodrome of ancient Olympia's sacred area, moving the crowds with their great achievements. Although mortal, their Olympic victories immortalised them. Of the best athletes who left their mark on the sacred valley of Olympia, some surpassed all limits and became legends by winning in successive Olympic Games and remaining at the forefront of their sport for more than a decade.
It is worth mentioning some of their extraordinary achievements, which, even by today's standards, would be the envy of athletes such as Nurmi, Zatopek or Lewis. Chariot racing. The ancient Olympic Games began in the year BC , when Koroibos, a cook from the nearby city of Elis, won the stadion race, a foot race feet long. The stadion track at Olympia is shown here. According to some literary traditions, this was the only athletic event of the games for the first 13 Olympic festivals or until BC.
From BC, the Games were held in Olympia every four years for almost 12 centuries. Contrary evidence, both literary and archaeological, suggests that the games may have existed at Olympia much earlier than this date, perhaps as early as the 10th or 9th century BC. What's that, you ask? A series of bronze tripods have been found at Olympia, some of which may date to the 9th century BC, and it has been suggested that these tripods may in fact be prizes for some of the early events at Olympia.
Source: Deutsches Archaologisches Institut, Athen. Did you know Additional athletic events were gradually added until, by the 5th century BC, the religious festival consisted of a five-day program.
For a complete list of events, click here. Likewise, no times were kept for the running events. Winners' names might be recorded, however. The procession would reach Olympia from the city-state of Elis, 34 miles away.
Judges in purple robes were followed by referees, heralds, athletes, and their trainers. Purification rites and sacrifices were made to the Greek gods. Visitors might be from far away and could include soldiers, artists, philosophers, princes, and historians, as well as fishermen and farmers. Many would sightsee at the temples of Hera and Zeus. The games meant good business for the peddlers and entertainers who would also become part of the Olympic audience.
The chariot races were a popular beginning to the events. A herald announced each horse-and-chariot owner, his father, and his city. The race recalls an old legend of King Oenomaus of Pisa who demanded that no one should marry his daughter who could not first beat him in a chariot race. The equestrian events took place in the Hippodrome hippo means horse in Greek.
Crashes between the chariots, often drawn by four horses at high speeds, could be deadly. In races on horseback, hired jockeys hired would race without saddles. If a horse threw her jockey and went on to win the race, she would still be declared the winner. After leaving the Hippodrome, the visitors would go to the stadium to watch athletes compete in the pentathlon: discus throw, long jump, javelin throw, stade race, and upright wrestling.
These sports were taught to all Greek schoolboys-- and girls as well in Sparta. The pentathletes were crowd favorites for their overall athletic ability.
After a night of feasting and celebration, the third day of the Olympics began with the very solemn sacrifice to Zeus. The rest of the day was devoted to the boys' events. These were for boys over seventeen but under twenty. The included events were similar to those for older athletes: the stade race, wrestling, boxing, and something called pankration , a combination of boxing and wrestling. First came the foot races.
The long race, or dolichos , began as the sun rose over the mountains. The stade race was next. The word stade referred to the length of the stadium, about feet. The stade race gave the city-states a chance to compete in serious rivalry without bloodshed.
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