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ESSAY

The ancient Olympics originated in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC and were held every four years to honor Zeus. Events included foot races, wrestling, and the pentathlon. Athletes competed nude and spectators were initially only unmarried women and men. Victors received prizes such as free food and money. The Olympics grew to include armed races but declined under Roman rule and were abolished in 393 AD before being revived in 1896 with traditions of international competition every four years.

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173 views

ESSAY

The ancient Olympics originated in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC and were held every four years to honor Zeus. Events included foot races, wrestling, and the pentathlon. Athletes competed nude and spectators were initially only unmarried women and men. Victors received prizes such as free food and money. The Olympics grew to include armed races but declined under Roman rule and were abolished in 393 AD before being revived in 1896 with traditions of international competition every four years.

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Јефимија Јовановић
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ESSAY: ANCIENT OLYMPICS

Since 1896, the year the Olympics were resurrected from ancient history, the Olympics have
been a symbol of the camaraderie and harmony possible on a global scale. The gathering of
athletic representatives, the pride of the pack, from participating governments, even
throughout the recent Cold War period, is proof that world unity is possible; just as it was in
Ancient Greece with the polis or city-states.
 
Olympic Games were held throughout Ancient Greece, but the most famous are the games
that were held in Olympia in honor of Zeus every four years from August 6th to September
19th. The first record of these games is of one Coroebus of Elis, a cook, winning a sprint race
in 776 BC. Most historians believe the games to have been going on for approximately 500
years before this. In the year Coroebus was made a part of history, there was apparently
only one simple event, a race called the stade. The track was said to be one stade long or
roughly 210 yards.
In subsequent games, additional events were to be added, most likely to increase the
challenge to these amazing athletes. In 724 BC, the diaulos, a two stade race, was added,
followed by a long distance race, about 2 1/4 miles and called the dolichos, at the next
games four years later. Wrestling and the famous Pentathlon were introduced in 708 BC.
The Pentathlon consisted of five events; the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, foot
race, and wrestling. The Pentathlons, especially the successful ones, were often treated and
even worshipped like gods. Because of their exquisite physiques, they were used as the
models for statues of the Greek Gods. The superior athletic ability of these athletes affects
the games even today. The twisting and throwing method of the discus throw, which
originated in Ancient Greece, is still used today. The original events were even more
challenging than those of today.

One significant difference between the modern and ancient games; the original Olympians competed
in the nude. Because of this, the 45,000 spectators consisted of men and unwed virgin women only.
The only exception to this would be the priestess of Demeter who was also the only spectator
honored with a seat. The young unwed women were allowed to watch to introduce them to men in
all their splendor and brutality whereas it was felt that married women should not see what they
could not have. In addition, the virgins had their own event which occurred on the men’s religious
day of rest. Called the Haria, in honor of Hara the wife of Zeus, the young women would race dressed
in a short tunic which exposed the right breast. Traditionally, Spartan women dominated this event,
being trained from birth for just this purpose.

The Olympics of old were entirely a man on man competition. No records were kept to be broken but
a few amazing legends of the games have survived the test of time. Aegeus, for instance, was said to
have completed his competition and then to run home to Argos, over 60 miles away, in one day.
Milo, one of the most feared Olympians of Ancient Greece, was said to have carried a full grown bull
to the arena, butchered it, and ate the entire animal in one day. Not surprisingly, he was said to have
one many a wrestling match by the forfeiture of his opponent. He also walked away with six
consecutive Olympic crowns.
These legends, for all their blood, sweat, and tears, were awarded an olive branch from the
tree behind the alter of Zeus when they won. Fortunately, the regions they represented
were usually somewhat more grateful for bringing honor home. It was not uncommon for
the victors to receive free food for life, money, or other valuable offers. They were often
worshipped as gods and sometimes their sweat was preserved and sold as a magical potion.
In the later years of the games, an additional event was added which signaled the end of the
games and the return to the war ridden life of ancient history. Soldiers, adorned with a full
body of armor weighing upwards of 50 pounds, would compete in a foot race.
Unfortunately, even the apparent athletic ability of these soldiers could not prevent the fall
of Greece to Rome in the middle of the second century BC. Under Roman rule, the Olympics
began to lose its fervor until it was abolished in 393 AD by the Christian Roman emperor
Theodosius I who most likely objected to the pagan rites associated with the Olympics.

 Some historians believe that even after the official abolishment of the Olympics, it may have
survived for an additional 120 years. Its subsequent revival in 1896 was brought about by the
discovery of the ancient stadium. Since that time, it has been held every four years, in
accordance with tradition, being interrupted only for the two world wars. The competition of
the nations in these events represents the age old competitive spirit of man. The need for
people to take pride in something larger than themselves and feel as if they are part of a
greater good. The Olympics, today as well as 3,000 years ago, offers a non-combative
environment to do so.

Nastasija Jovanović

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