Olympic Games in Ancient Greece - the most significant sports competitions of antiquity

More than two thousand years ago, Olympia was formedmyths and legends, it was glorified by philosophers, historians and poets. It was famous for its holy places, temples of Zeus and Hera, historical monuments, the construction of which dates back to the 2nd millennium BC. Later, in honor of the Olympic Games, various structures were built and numerous statues were erected, including the famous majestic statue of Zeus. It was here that tens of thousands of Hellas residents gathered to become participants and witnesses of the largest sports competitions of antiquity.

People's hero Hercules, the legendary king Pelops,Spartan legislator Lycurgus, the king of Elida Iphit - these names in myths and legends are associated with the appearance of sports in the sacred Olympia. About when they were held for the first time, there is no unanimity. It is considered to be a reliable date stamped on a marble slab next to the winner's name in a race of runners. 776 BC. e. entered the annals of sports as the year in which the first Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece. About the day of their discovery and the beginning of a three-month ceasefire in Hellenistic cities learned from the messengers of the temple of Zeus.

For the contestants there were strictlimitations. They were only born free citizens of Greek origin who did not tarnish themselves by breaking the vow, dishonest act or other crime. According to Olympic rules, athletes who announced their participation in the main competitions of the four-year period were given 10 months to prepare, and a month before the Olympics they were to appear in Olympia and demonstrate their willingness to participate in competitions. Women were forbidden to be at the festival in the sanctuary of Zeus, and, of course, the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece were held without their participation.

At the first thirteen Olympiads competedonly runners for one distance, which, depending on the length of the step of the judge 175 - 192, 27 meters. At the fifteenth Olympiad appeared pentatlon, consisting of running, fighting, throwing a disk and a spear, jumps in length. Some time later, the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece enriched their program with new competitions - fisticuffs and chariot races, harnessed by two or four horses. In 648 BC, the program included a pankration - the most cruel and difficult kind of competition, combining the fight and fistfight. The Olympics in Ancient Greece also included racing and running in military equipment.

Being an element of religious worship,The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece began and ended with religious ceremonies. Athletes spent the first day of games at the altars and altars of their patron gods, and on the final day after the awards were given, the winners were told the ritual. The victory won at the Olympics was highly appreciated, for it glorified not only the athlete, but also the policy presented to them.

With the arrival of the Romans, the Olympic Games in AncientGreece gradually lost its former scope, and soon lost its former importance. 394 was the date of the ban on games by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who saw a pagan rite at a sports festival.