THE ANCIENT

GREEK OLYMPIC
GAMES
The mythology behind the Olympics
◦ There a few stories surrounding the origins of the Olympic games, one including Heracles and another including Pelops, King of Pisa. In
the Heracles version, after completing his fifth labour of clearing out the Augean stables in a day, a task completed by diverting the river
Alpheios to wash away the oxen dung, he also cleared out an area in Olympia. In celebration of completing this task, Heracles cleared out
the grove, marked out the distance for the race (and later the stadium) with his footsteps and invited men from all around Greece to
compete. He called this competition the Olympic games and dedicated them to his father, Zeus. Legend states that he also planted the
olive tree which would later be used to crown the victors with their laurels.
◦ In another version, it was Pelops who eventually founded the games (in celebration or in the hopes of purification). King Oinomaos of
Pisa had a daughter, Hippodameia, but according to a prophecy he would be killed by her daughters husband. To prevent this, Oinomaos
presented a challenge to whoever might want to marry his daughter- any man who wanted to marry his daughter was required to drive
away with her in his chariot, and Oinomaos would follow in another chariot and spear the suitor if he caught up with them. The king was
certain this would work, as his chariot was drawn by supernaturally fast horses. Pelops, being a local hero of Olympia and an extremely
handsome man, immediately swooned Hippodameia and she bribed her fathers charioteer to replace the chariots bronze axle pins with
wax. When Pelops took Hippodameia, their plan worked, perhaps a bit too well, and Oinomaos fell from his chariot and died. In
celebration of this (or to purify himself of killing his would be father in law) he organised chariot races and these eventually became the
Olympic games. Obviously there is some discourse over the true origins of the games, but regardless of how they were created, they
existed and still exist to this day after thousands of years.
Background on the Olympics
◦ People travelled from all over the Mediterranean to reach Elis to see the games, and upwards of 50,000 people attended them.
Warring or rival states would (in theory) put away their differences during the games because of the Olympic truce, a tradition
protecting any athletes and visitors travelling to, residing in, or leaving Olympia where the games were held. The earliest
recorded Olympic games were dated to 776 BC, and were held every 4 years (or an Olympiad). The last recorded celebration
of the games was in 393 AD, under the Roman rule of Theodosius I, but there is archaeological evidence to state that they
were still held at a later date. Victors of the various games held would win an olive leaf wreath or crown. Victories were also
used as political tools by city states to assert their dominance over others. In times of war, sacrifices were offered to the Gods
for victory. The statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of the seven wonders of the world (Before it was burnt down under the rule
of Theodosius II). Participation in the games was open to any free born Greek man (Although wealthy women could own
chariots in the races) and those who won had their names passed down through the annals of history.
◦ The games were an important religious event, and on the middle day of the games 100 oxen were sacrificed to Zeus, as the
games were in his honour. The site of the games became an important spot for worship to Zeus, and his temple (one of the
largest Doric temples in Greece) was erected the architect Libon on the mountaintop. The sculptor Pheidias created the statue
of Zeus, made of ivory and gold and stood 13m tall.
THE EVENTS
The events- Running
◦ There were multiple events to do with running:
◦ Stade, or Stadion- An ancient running event, where participants had to run a stade, or about 18om. This was one of the five
major pentathlon events held at the games. There was also a boys stade held from the 37 th Olympic games.
◦ Diaulos- A double stadion, covering 400m. This was introduced in the 14 th Olympic games.
◦ Dolichos- A long distance race, approximately 4.8km and 12.5 laps of the Olympic grounds. Most races would stay on the
stadium grounds but this would wind its way around the grounds, passing by important areas and shrines like the statue of
Nike (victory, quite fitting really)
◦ Hoplitodromos- Literally a hoplite race, in which the participants would run the race in the greaves, helmet and carry the aspis
of a hoplite. This was one of the shorter races so it was more a test of endurance than speed due to the weight being carried. In
Olympia it was similar in length to the Diaulos, approximately 400m, while at the Nemean games it was 700-800m.
Astonishingly in Plataea in Boeotia, the race came to 15 stades, or nearly 3km.
◦ Traditionally this was the last race held at the games, and it was the last foot race introduced to the games, being added in 520
BC.
The events- Fighting
◦ Pygmachia (Boxing)- We know very little about boxing in the ancient Olympic games, its rules, customs and technique are
mostly unknown to us. What we do know is that gloved boxing was an important event in the Olympics
◦ Pankration- An ancient martial art combining boxing and wrestling, being a combination of the words ‘Pan’ (all) and Kratos
(strength, might), literally meaning ‘all of the might’. Introduced in the 33rd Olympic Games where it joined boxing and
wrestling in a category called “heavy events.” That special group of sports was reserved for the best athletes with the greatest
strength and stamina. It was one of the most popular events in the Olympic games after it’s introduction.
◦ Wrestling- There were two forms of Ancient Greek wrestling: upright wrestling and ground wrestling. In upright wrestling
you had to make your opponent fall 3 times, and unlike todays wrestling where your back has to touch the floor, it could be
any part of the body. With ground wrestling, the only way to win is if your opponent yields by pointing his index finger at the
umpire
◦ Boys Boxing and Pankration
◦ In all forms of this, the participants had to fight naked and covered in oil, showing off their heroic nudity
The events- Horse racing
◦ Only the richest of people could afford to enter horses into the games, transporting them from
wherever they lived to Olympia for the racing. The owners would get jockeys to drive their
chariots or ride their horses. They occurred in the hippodrome, with sufficient space for
competitors (sometimes up to 50) and they would ride around the hippodrome with two
turning points at each end. These were the most dangerous areas, as the sharp turns could
cause injury and death for horse and driver alike. There was the four horse chariot race, the
two horse chariot race and the horse with rider race.
The events- Miscellaneous
◦ Pentathlon- Meaning the ‘five contests’, these included discus-throwing, the long jump, javelin-throwing, running (probably
the stadion) and wrestling. All these happened In one afternoon, and Pentathletes were some of the most admired in the
Olympics as they possessed the endurance, speed, skill and strength to do all this in such a short time.
◦ Competition for the heralds and trumpeters- A competition for heralds and trumpeters to test their prowess against other
heralds and trumpeters.