The Olympics

Salve omnes!

In honor of the Olympic games, the club would like to provide a brief overview of the history of the games in ancient Greece.  The traditional date for the first of the games is 776 BCE in Olympia, located on the western region of the Peloponnese.

There existed large temples of Zeus and Hera as Olympia was a major center of worship in Greece going back to the 10th century.  Here is what is left of the temple of Zeus...

Dedicated to the Olympian gods, the games showed off the physical characteristics of the young athletes and inspired good relations among the Greek city-states.  According to common myths, Herakles held the games in honor of Zeus, who had aided him in conquering King Augeas of Elis.

Entrants to the games were all male Greek citizens, from the philosopher Democritus to Alexander I, a king of Macedonia.  Unmarried women were allowed to spectate at the competitions but married women did not have the privilege of attending the events at all.  Initially the games only lasted one day until they were expanded to a three day event and then later a five day event.  There were competitions in running, javelin, boxing, shot put, and long jump as well as wrestling, horse racing and chariot racing.  

The award ceremony occurred on the last day of the events at the Temple of Zeus and an olive tree wreath would be placed upon the winner's head.

Valete omnes!