The Olympics

The Olympics began in ancient times with four events known as the Isthmians, the Nemeans, the Pythians and the Olympic Games. Each was a religious festival. The four-year span was called the Olympiad, and historical records used the Olympics to keep time. The Olympiad was so well-loved that wars were even halted for the event.

An olive branch was the only official prize for an Olympic winner, but often some unofficial prizes were awarded by the winner's city-state. A winner from the city of Athens was allowed to live in the Pyrtaneum, a special hall for dignitaries. Other city-states exempted winners from taxes for the four years of an Olympiad, and the citizens of some areas donated prize money.

Athletes came to the city of Elis a month before the Games. They went through spiritual, moral and physical training as judges watched. The judges would decide which athletes were qualified to compete. Each had to swear that he was a freeborn Greek who had committed no sacrilege against the gods.

At first the Games took only one day during the festival. In 680 B.C. two days were added for horse racing and extended to five days in 632. Competition took place only three days. The first day of the games was for religious sacrifices, registration of athletes and taking the Olympic oath. Giving of prizes and sacrifices of thanksgiving took place on the fifth day.

Athletes in the original Olympic Games competed nude. At first competitors wore clothes, but one purposely lost his shorts in order to run more freely, and soon clothing was abolished. Women weren't permitted to watch the Games, but not because of the nudity. Olympia had been set aside for Zeus and was a sacred area for men. Women had their own sacred festivals where men were not allowed.

During the most popular years, the Olympic festival attracted people from as far away as Libya and Egypt. Artists became part of the festivities. Poets and writers recited their works, sculptors worked on statues, vendors sold food and traders sold livestock. The trip itself became a pilgrimage, and at age 70, Plato attended the festival.

Hippias was the first one to list winners in individual categories of the Olympic Games. The festival and its traditions lasted more than 1,000 years, until the Emperor Theodosius canceled them in 394 A.D.

The Games were revived in 1896 in an attempt to promote friendship. Once again the Games were held in Athens, Greece. Countries from all over the globe sent their young people to compete as their representatives. Athletes lived together in an Olympic Village at the site of the Games to allow them to get to know each other.