The Olympic Games
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The first Olympic Games, according to record, happened in 776 B.C. These games were dedicated to the Olympian gods. The ancient Olympic Games were on the plains of Olympia. These games went on for almost 12 centuries. Emperor Theodosius banned them in 393 A.D. for the reason they were “pagan cults.”
The Olympic Games were linked to the religious festivals honoring Zeus, the lighting god. The games were aimed to show physical strength, qualities, and the evolution of performances. Also, they were encouraging good relationships between the city-states of Ancient Greece. The games owed their purity and importance to religion.
The games would consist of running, discus throw, wrestling, boxing, pankration, and equestrian events. Jumping was the sport where athletes would use stone/lead weights to increase their distance of the jump. The same technique for the ancient art of discus throw is very alike as the one today. They would use stone in the earlier games and later use iron, lead, or bronze. Wrestling was a form of military exercise without the use of weapons. The only way it would end is when one player would admit he was defeated. When they boxed, they would wrap himantes, straps, around their hands. This would help their fingers and hands. In the earlier games, they were made of very soft fabric, but towards the later games they would use hard, leather straps. Pankration was both boxing and wrestling. It was the toughest sport. The equestrian events were races. To be more specific, horse and chariot races.
When there is a victor, there is also a ceremony. It was custom for immediately after the victor won, he received his awards. A Hellanodikis, an ancient Greece judge, would call the winner’s name and would place a palm branch in his hands. While the judge was doing this, the crowd would throw flowers and cheer. Also, red ribbons were tied to the victor as a sign of victory.
Those customs were not the official ceremony. The official ceremony would take place on the last day of their Olympic Games. They were held at the temple of Zeus. In a loud voice, the Hellanodikis would announce the winner, his father’s name, and his homeland. Then the herald would place a kotinos (a sacred olive tree wreath) on the winner’s head.
The Olympic Games were linked to the religious festivals honoring Zeus, the lighting god. The games were aimed to show physical strength, qualities, and the evolution of performances. Also, they were encouraging good relationships between the city-states of Ancient Greece. The games owed their purity and importance to religion.
The games would consist of running, discus throw, wrestling, boxing, pankration, and equestrian events. Jumping was the sport where athletes would use stone/lead weights to increase their distance of the jump. The same technique for the ancient art of discus throw is very alike as the one today. They would use stone in the earlier games and later use iron, lead, or bronze. Wrestling was a form of military exercise without the use of weapons. The only way it would end is when one player would admit he was defeated. When they boxed, they would wrap himantes, straps, around their hands. This would help their fingers and hands. In the earlier games, they were made of very soft fabric, but towards the later games they would use hard, leather straps. Pankration was both boxing and wrestling. It was the toughest sport. The equestrian events were races. To be more specific, horse and chariot races.
When there is a victor, there is also a ceremony. It was custom for immediately after the victor won, he received his awards. A Hellanodikis, an ancient Greece judge, would call the winner’s name and would place a palm branch in his hands. While the judge was doing this, the crowd would throw flowers and cheer. Also, red ribbons were tied to the victor as a sign of victory.
Those customs were not the official ceremony. The official ceremony would take place on the last day of their Olympic Games. They were held at the temple of Zeus. In a loud voice, the Hellanodikis would announce the winner, his father’s name, and his homeland. Then the herald would place a kotinos (a sacred olive tree wreath) on the winner’s head.