Panhellenicaidic Games: The Olympic Games

“Although the ancient Games were staged … from 776 BC through 393 AD, it took 1503 years for the Olympics to return” (The Games). The Olympic Games were very important to the Greeks just like the Games are a huge spectacle for the world now. The Games were always important to the Greeks because the Olympics tied into their religion. The Greeks used the Olympics to worship their gods by showing their strength and gifts that the gods had given them. Once the Greeks lost their empire, the Olympics died off. Modern day people did not warm up to the idea of the Olympics until the 1900s. Once they warmed up to the idea of the Olympics, they took off with it, and it is now a global spectacle. The Olympics has a rich history, significant purpose,

Competition is healthy and athletes train to prepare for the ultimate goal, victory. Today’s athletes have diverse backgrounds, and only need to demonstrate a talent before perfecting their skill. Sports have been around from ancient times to present day, and are an integral part of our society. If modern day athletes knew the outcome of a sporting event could be influenced by the gods, would they still compete? Homer’s epic narratives, Iliad 23 and Odyssey 8, describe athletic contests that occurred in the ancient world (Kyle 53). Homer’s heroes were the athletes, and were held to certain Greek values, they had to be an agathos and have arête in order to compete in sporting events

There are many opportunities to celebrate the god, yet some that are more culturally tied to Greece are the Olympics. These are held every four years in honour of the god (301). There were other athletic contest that were held solely in honour of Zeus, they were held every two years at Nemea (301).

At the end of the dark ages in ancient Greece, nothing was more important to Greek men, than reaching their divine potential. At a young age Greek males were taught many legends, such as the Odyssey, which gave them a desire to accomplish their own heroic journey. The importance to be recognized and remembered as a hero surprisingly led to the creation of a religious festival called, the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games created an opportunity for all free men to discover their divine role in society, by letting them present their skills in athletic competitions, which often led to the victors gaining a sense of immortality. The Olympics provided what was needed in the Greek society to continue the teachings of having a sound body and mind in order to fulfill ones divine purpose.

Third, Greece valued competition and because of their desire for the perfect body and their intense passion for competition, they founded the Olympic Games. Modern day society continues to celebrate the Olympic Games, and the games still bring nations together, to converse and share ideas. Additionally, three things remain constant from the original Greek Olympic Games; they are held every four years; they have opening and closing ceremonies, and the winning athletes are still treated with abundant importance. (“The Ancient Olympics.”)

The purpose of the ancient Greek Olympic Games was not to boost the status of your country like it is today, but to honor the Greek Gods. More specifically to honor the God Zeus, who was also known as “Father of Gods and men. The son of Cronus and Rhea was a wise and fair God who ruled both Heaven and Earth. His official title was King of Mount Olympus which is also the home of the Greek Gods. People worshiped Zeus due to his high authority, and because he controlled lightening and thunder which he used as weapons. Zeus held many titles such as patron of hospitality, keeper of oaths, and God of crops and harvest. The Greeks wanted to insure that they would have good fortune. To do so they went to Greek temples and prayed. Greek Gods were a

The olympics were one of the greece favorite things they were celebrating it in honor of there gods like in todays olympics it took place every four years in olympia the first olympics was said to be held in 700 B.C. in honor of zeus and women could not watch the games on only greeks could participate. In 472 B.C. the games went from a one day festival to a five days with many

In addition to basically creating the first fairly functioning government, Greek scholars helped master forms of entertainment still relevant today. Considerably one of the most influential activities started by the Greek was the Olympic Games. First held around 776 B.C. to honor the god Zeus, the Olympic Games became a Greek tradition . The games were held close to Olympia, where Greeks believed all the deities lived, every four years. Competitions such as boxing, running, long jump, discus, javelin, chariot racing, and pankration were held. Approximately 2,600 years later, on April 6, 1896, began the modern Olympics taking place in Greece with 14 countries participating . The long jump and running races first seen in

Various religious festivals were held in ancient Greece, to show worship and honor to the Olympian gods and goddesses. Such as Lycaea was celebrated in Arcadia Greece, which was a dedication to the god Pan. Pan was known as the god of the wild and rustic music. One of the major known festivities that were celebrated in different locations every four years was the Olympic Games. These games were to celebrate not only Zeus, but who all in all was better over the other. These Olympic Games are still held, till today in the modern world.

"The Olympics are a wonderful metaphor for world cooperation, the kind of international competition that's wholesome and healthy, an interplay between countries that represents the best in all of us,” said John Williams, the composer for theme music for the Olympics (8). The Olympic Games are international sports festivals that began in ancient Greece. The first ancient Olympics can be traced back to 776 BC when people held this religious festival to honour Zeus, the father of all the Greek gods and goddesses. The participants were male citizens from Greece, and these athletes participated in only one event — foot race. Unfortunately, this ancient Olympics did not last forever. The first olympic in 776 BC in Olympia was an significant event

The Greek city-states were often at war with one another. Throughout the course of the games the relationships between the states grew much stronger. But, if the games were scheduled during a time of war between some of the participating states a “Sacred Truce” was sent out to the states granting safe passage and one month of peace before the games began. This was always abided by and respected, because the Olympics had many religious ceremonies that were viewed as more important than war(The Olympic Games”).

Stephen G. Miller, an expert Yale professor in the field of Ancient Greek athletics states that the Olympics were held “in honor of Zeus in the city of Olympia” (Miller). “The element of religion is evident in this historical event. Many people have heard of the concepts of the Greek Gods, but this level of religious involvement is interesting. These games were held “for four days every fourth summer”, a tradition that partially continues to this day (Miller). “Many festivals in ancient Greece were dedicated to the Gods” (Miller). In addition to the Olympic Games, there were also other athletic festivals which included the Pythian Games at Delphi, the Isthmian at Corinth, and the Nemean at Argos (Miller). However, the Olympics at Olympia were “the oldest and most prestigious of the four great ancient Greek athletic festivals.

The respect shown by their Ptolemaic conquerors in 2nd century B.C. was demonstrated by the fact that, again, they did not attempt to force the Egyptians to take up Greek cultural practices. They “...did not interfere with Egyptian society, contenting themselves with the efficient organization of agriculture, industry, and tax collection” (Traditions and Encounters pg141). This freedom in societal and religious matters lessened the impression of oppression and allowed for a much smoother melding of governments. The Olympic Games, begun in 776 B.C. fostered a sense of “collective identity” within Greek territories by allowing athletes from all poleis to participate (Traditions and Encounters

While there are clear contrasts between the ancient and the modern Olympics there is still the respect for the athlete striving to perform at the highest level. Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest carnival of athletic skill and competitive spirit. They are displays of nationalism, commerce, and politics. These important elements of the Olympics are not a modern invention, as the first Olympics was in 776 BC in Ancient Greece. After 1503 years, in 1896 the Olympic Games were recreated as what we know today. The Ancient Games were once dedicated to the Olympian God, Zeus Olympios and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia, which is also how the word ‘Olympics’ originated from. The modern Olympics is the largest international sporting event, which feature both summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of respectable athletes from over 200 different nations compete against one another. There are clear contrast between the modern and ancient forms of the Olympic Games regarding uniforms, participants, religion, events, politics and the concept of amateurism. However both the Ancient Greeks and the people in the modern world still respect and admire the athletics achievements of the participants making the Olympics the most highly regarded contest in sport.

One exceptionally significant custom of the Greeks still observed today is the Olympics. These ancient games incorporated a concept of free athletic competition without bloodshed. If the Greeks