Birth of the Olympic Games.

To which ancient Greek hero did myths attribute the establishment of the ancient Olympic Games?

Answers:

The Olympic Games from inception to decline. There are many legends about the origin of the Olympic Games. All of them are associated with the ancient Greek gods and heroes. The most famous legend tells how the king of Elis, Ifit, seeing that his people were tired of endless wars, went to Delphi, where the priestess of Apollo conveyed to him the command of the gods: to arrange pan-Greek athletic festivals pleasing to them. After that, Iphitus, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Athenian legislator and reformer Cliosthenes established the procedure for holding such games and entered into a sacred alliance. Olympia, where this festival was to be held, was declared a sacred place, and anyone who enters its borders armed is a criminal. According to another myth, Zeus' son Heracles brought the sacred olive branch to Olympia and instituted the Games of Athletes to commemorate Zeus' victory over his ferocious father Cronus. There is also a legend that Hercules, having organized the Olympic Games, perpetuated the memory of Pelops (Pelops), who won the chariot race of the cruel king Enomai. And the name Pelops was given to the Peloponnese region, where the "capital" of the ancient Olympic Games was located. Religious ceremonies were an obligatory part of the ancient Olympic Games. According to the established custom, the first day of the Games was set aside for sacrifices: athletes spent this day at the altars and altars of their patron gods. A similar ceremony was repeated on the final day of the Olympic Games, when awards were presented to the winners. During the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece wars stopped and a truce was concluded - ekecheria, and representatives of the warring policies held peace negotiations in Olympia in order to resolve conflicts. On the bronze disk of Ifit with the rules of the Olympic Games, which was stored in Olympia in the temple of Hera, the corresponding paragraph was recorded. “On the disk of Ifit is written the text of the truce that the Eleans declare for the time of the Olympic Games; it is not written in straight lines, but the words go around the disk in the form of a circle ”(Pausanias, Description of Hellas). From the Olympic Games 776 BC. e. (most early games, the mention of which has come down to us - according to some experts, the Olympic Games began to be held more than 100 years earlier) the Greeks were counting a special "Olympic chronology" introduced by the historian Timaeus. The Olympic holiday was celebrated in the "holy month", beginning with the first full moon after the summer solstice. It was to be repeated every 1417 days that made up the Olympiad - the Greek "Olympic" year. Starting as a competition of local importance, the Olympic Games eventually became an event of a pan-Greek scale. Many people came to the Games not only from Greece itself, but also from its colonial cities from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The games continued even when Hellas fell under the control of Rome (in the middle of the 2nd century BC), as a result of which one of the fundamental Olympic principles was violated, which allowed only Greek citizens to participate in the Olympic Games, and even some were among the winners Roman emperors (including Nero, who "won" chariot races drawn by ten horses). It affected the Olympic Games and began in the 4th century BC. e. the general decline of Greek culture: they gradually lost their former meaning and essence, turning from a sporting event and a significant social event into a purely entertainment event, in which mainly professional athletes participated. And in 394 AD. e. The Olympic Games were banned - as a "remnant of paganism" - by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly propagated Christianity. At the end of the 19th century The Olympic Games were revived at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin

OLYMPIA - THE CRADE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

The Olympic Games, as we know them now, have a long history dating back to ancient times. It all started in the Peloponnese, Greece, about 3,000 years ago.
Sports competitions were held in Olympia and got their name from the venue of the Olympic Games. No one knows exactly when they began, but the first written mention dates back to 776 BC.
The Games were held in the same location every four years. This four-year period was called the Olympiad and was used as a reckoning system: time was measured in Olympiads, not in years.

THE BIRTH OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Olympus is a high, rocky mountain in northern Greece, it was believed that the gods live there.
The history of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece is shrouded in legends and myths, but it is known for certain that they began to be held in Olympia, a town located in southern Greece, in the western part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, in the region of Elis.

According to one of the legend versions, the cruel god Kronos ruled there. For fear of dying at the hands of one of his children, he swallowed his newborn babies. Their unfortunate mother Rhea, having given birth to another son, gave her father a stone wrapped in diapers, which he swallowed without noticing the substitution, and entrusted the newborn Zeus to the shepherds. The boy grew up, became the mighty Zeus the Thunderer, entered into a mortal battle with Kronos and defeated him. Numerous brothers and sisters of Zeus came out of the womb of the devouring father, who later also became gods. In honor of this event, Zeus founded the disinterested, honest competitions of the strong, dexterous and courageous, later called Olympian in the place where they were held. And they were held in a beautiful place: an oak grove dedicated to Zeus, with it a temple of Zeus, and a place for competitions was arranged at the temple. The competition was dedicated to Olympian Zeus.

Other legends say that the founder of the Olympic competitions is the son of Zeus Hercules. It was in this place that he accomplished one of his feats - he cleaned out the notorious stables of the king of Elis and organized the first competitions in honor of the victory over Avgiy. Hercules is also credited with .... "stadium"...

Beautiful romantic legends surround the ancient Greek Olympic Games. Some attribute the establishment of this great holiday to Zeus, who at Olympia defeated his cruel father Kronos. Other legends claim that it was in this place that the son of Zeus, Hercules, performed one of his feats and organized the first competitions in honor of the victory over King Avgiy. Or maybe they were organized by Pelops, who by cunning defeated the cruel king Enomai?

A legend has a certain historical authenticity, according to which the ruler of Elis, Ifit, tired of constant civil strife and strife, turned to the Delphic oracle with the question of how to stop them. And I got the answer: to resume the forgotten Olympic Games. Ifit proposed to the king of warlike Sparta, Lycurgus, to establish competitions during which a sacred truce would be established - ekeyheria. Under the terms of the concluded agreement, a large fine was imposed for violating the truce and, what was even worse, the perpetrators were deprived of the right to participate in the Olympic Games.
The reality of this fact is confirmed by the ancient Greek historian Pausanias, who wrote that back in the 2nd century. AD a copper disc, on which the truce was inscribed, concluded between Ifit and Lycurgus, was kept in one of the temples of Olympia.
The details of this legend are interesting: according to the assumptions of scientists, Ifit and Lycurgus lived around the 9th century. BC, i.e., earlier than the official dates for the establishment of the Olympic Games. But they just resumed the games. So, competitions in Olympia were held before? It must be assumed that long before the Olympic Games, ritual competitions were held in the Alfea Valley in honor of the initiation of young men into warriors. But they were local. Ifit and Lycurgus gave them national importance. History needs a reliable starting point. Such a point was the first monument erected in Olympia to the winner of the competition. Therefore, 776 BC, when Koreb from Elis outstripped all rivals in the race by one stage, is officially considered the year the Olympic Games began.

Initially, the program of the Olympic Games was limited to the stadium - running one stage. Then the program began to expand: competitions were introduced in running for two stages, running for the 24th stage, running with weapons, then pentathlon appeared - pentathlon (running, jumping, discus and spear throwing, wrestling), wrestling and fisticuffs, chariot racing. From 632 BC competitions for children began to be included in the Games.
No matter how the program of the Olympic Games expanded, the most revered was the run for one stage. The winner in the stadium was given the right to light a fire on the altar of Zeus, he became the main character of the Games.

The main award for the winner of the Olympic Games - Olympionics was the olive branch. She was cut with a golden ritual knife from an old tree, which, it was believed, was planted by Hercules. The name of the athlete was carved on a marble slab, and monuments were erected to those who were especially outstanding. But it was, so to speak, a moral encouragement. Residents of the city, which represented the winner, gave him expensive gifts, exempted from taxes, provided a free place in the theater.
The return of the winner to his homeland turned into a truly triumphal procession; all the inhabitants greeted him joyfully.
The names of compatriots who became winners of the Olympic and other competitions were immortalized in gymnasiums and churches. A record of their achievements was painstakingly kept. Young people were brought up on the example of outstanding athletes. Some of them were revered on a par with the gods. From the surviving records it is known that the athlete Feagen achieved 1300 victories in various competitions. Leonidas from Rhodes has been Olympic champion twelve times in the one and two stadia and in the arms race in four Olympiads.
But the most famous athlete1 of Ancient Greece is Milo of Croton. In 540 BC at the age of 14 he becomes an Olympic winner in wrestling. He was then crowned with the Olympic wreath six more times. In addition, Milo won the Pythian, Isthmian and Nemian games many times. Legends were made about his unprecedented physical strength and dexterity. It is no coincidence that historians have long argued whether Milo of Croton was a real person or a mythical character.
However, numerous sources confirm that he really existed. Interestingly, Milo studied at the school of Pythagoras, where he received not only physical, but also general education. Therefore, he played a big role in the political life of his native community. During the war with Sybaris, Milo was elected commander. He not only led the army, but, according to contemporaries, replaced the whole unit. Thus, Milo of Croton was the ancient Greek ideal of a harmoniously developed personality. And, like any ideal, it gradually acquired myths and legends. This is how the historian and geographer Strabo describes that during classes with Pythagoras, Milo accidentally knocked down a column of a house (!?). To prevent a catastrophe, he himself took the place of the column and until then supported the vault of the building until everyone left it.
The reliability of this fact is doubtful, but this and other legends confirm the love and respect that surrounded the outstanding athletes of ancient Greece.

Hosting the Olympic Games since 776 BC to 394 AD, that is, the preservation of the tradition of organizing competitions for more than eleven centuries, despite wars, epidemics and other social upheavals, in itself speaks of the enormous social significance that the Games played in Ancient Greece. However, we will try to specifically understand what social functions were performed by the ancient Olympic Games during their heyday.

Greek policies, torn apart by civil strife, could maintain unity and resist external enemies only thanks to a single religion and culture, close economic and political ties. The Olympic Games included all these unifying elements.

The spread of the cult of Zeus turned Olympia into the religious and cult center of ancient Greece. On the donations of the Greeks no later than 456 BC. the greatest temple of Zeus was erected here. The main decoration of the temple was the majestic statue of Zeus, recognized by contemporaries as one of the seven wonders of the world. Phidias created a twelve-meter-high sculpture made of gold and ivory, which at the same time struck with high artistic perfection. About 70 sanctuaries were also built in Olympia in honor of other gods and heroes.

Having arisen as an integral part of a religious and cult ritual, the Games throughout their existence were dedicated to Zeus, the Thunderer, and thus united all Greek lands. According to the Greeks, people communicated with the gods through competitions. It was the gods who gave victory to the most worthy. But in order to achieve the location of the gods, it was necessary to engage in physical and spiritual self-improvement, not to commit bad deeds, etc. At the same time, the winner of the competition, as it were, received a divine sign of special disposition, which made it possible to equate him with the gods themselves.

The Olympic Games had a significant impact on the development of Greek culture. Here, two aspects can be distinguished. Firstly, in Hellas there was a cult of a beautiful naked body. Athletes trained and competed naked. The shame of nakedness was considered a sign of barbarism. The Greeks revered the tanned, toned naked body as an expression of a high level of culture.
Secondly, during the Games, prominent philosophers, poets and scientists came from all over Hellas, which contributed to the further development of the amazing phenomenon of Greek culture. The great philosophers Plato, Socrates, Diogenes, Heraclitus, the fathers of history Herodotus and Thucydides, the founder of medicine Hippocrates, the classics of ancient Greek poetry Sophocles, Pindar, Eurepid spoke before a large audience. Philosophical conversations, poetic and oratorical speeches, contemplation of masterpieces of architecture and art, admiration for the beauty and physical perfection of athletes formed and developed a single Greek culture. While maintaining the specifics of the development and originality of various Greek cities, without the pressure of any centralized authority, it was here, at the festivities, that the national consciousness of the Greeks naturally formed. It was a consciousness of a high social civilization, spiritual and physical culture, a consciousness of superiority over slaves and neighboring barbarian peoples.

During the heyday of ancient Greece, the Olympic Games performed a number of social functions in addition to competition: religious, cultural, educational, economic, political, entertainment. However, the great social significance of the Olympic Games of this period was determined, first of all, by their influence on the unification of the Greek world and the formation of a single national identity. It is no coincidence that the most magnificent and colorful games of antiquity took place in 476 BC, when the united Greek troops, first in Marathon, and then in the naval battle of Salamis, defeated the Persian troops and thus preserved the freedom and independence of Greece. The Olympic Games then became a grand celebration in honor of the victory over a formidable enemy.
The athletes of this period reflected, on the one hand, the strength and power of their native city, and, on the other hand, the pan-Hellenic ideal of the all-round development and physical perfection of the individual. And it is deeply symbolic that for a long and intense preparation, hard trials in competitions, the winner in Olympia was awarded only a wreath from an olive branch. It was a symbol of disinterested wrestling. Honors and glory came to the winner as a sign of gratitude and love of compatriots, that is, they were the result of public recognition.

As Solon taught the unenlightened Scythian in the work of Lucian: “... whoever receives a wreath, will receive in it all the happiness available to a person: I’m talking about the freedom of every person in private life and in the life of his homeland, I’m talking about wealth and glory, about enjoying fatherly holidays, oh the salvation of his household and, in general, about the most beautiful thing that everyone could beg for himself from the gods; all this is woven into the wreath of which I speak, and is the reward of that competition, for the sake of which all these exercises and these labors take place.
In the 4th century BC. there are gradual changes in the nature and content of the Olympic Games. More and more attention is paid to the entertainment of competitions. Political chaos and constant warfare, especially the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), led to a coarsening of Greek tastes. The harmonic beauty of the body did not cause former admiration. The audience was increasingly attracted by wrestling, fisticuffs and pankration, rich in sharp, dramatic moments. Yes, and in these types of changes, if earlier the outcome of the fight was decided mainly by speed, dexterity, then during this period physical strength becomes the decisive quality.
The reward for winning the competition increases. Cities, seeking to demonstrate their power and win the favor of the gods, attract the most famous fighters, even if they live in other places or do not comply with the Olympic rules. In this regard, professional athletes take part in the competition for the first time.

The desire to win at any cost led to the violation of the rules and established norms. For the first time at the Olympic competitions, cases of bribery, cruelty, violations of the system for preparing for the games were registered.
In Greece, the Olympic and some other Games were of great importance in preserving national identity, historical and cultural traditions. Therefore, despite the loss of many values ​​and organizational moments, the Greeks continued to sacredly preserve the tradition of holding the Olympic Games. The changes that took place in the organization of the Games, to a certain extent, reflected the degradation of the ancient system of physical education and the crisis of the entire slave system.

The termination of the ancient Olympic Games was associated with a change in the dominant religion, and with it the ideological positions. In the context of the growing crisis of the slave system in the Roman Empire, a new religion, Christianity, was born and gained strength. One of the areas in which the struggle between the old Greco-Roman spiritual world and the new Christian worldview took place was Physical Culture. Having become the state religion, Christianity recognized the manifestation of paganism and “sinful physicality” in competitions and folk festivals, so they were subjected to severe persecution by the church and the state. Historians associate the ban on the Olympic Games with the name of Emperor Theodosius I, who adopted a set of laws to combat paganism (the code of Theodosius). In 392, Theodosius issued an edict (law) prohibiting all religious ceremonies, no matter how they differed. The Olympic Games and other competitions of athletes could fall under this ban.
The buildings and temples of Olympia were destroyed. Earthquakes and relentless time have completed this process. Olympia and the great festival held here were forgotten for centuries.

1 According to S.D. Sinitsyn, the concept of "athlete" first appeared in Homer's "Odyssey" to refer to a person who stands out for his physical qualities, skillful in exercises. At the same time, the word "athlete" is inseparable from the concept of "aristocrat" (24). OA Milshtein connects the concept of "athlete" with the first ruler of Elis - Atliy and the name of the award for the victory "atl" (29).
2 Lucian. Anacharsis, or On the exercise of the body. Works v.1, p.332.

Materials taken from the website of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus noc.by

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PANHELLINE GAMES

The Games held at Olympia gave rise to the Panhellenic Games, which also included:
- Games in Delphi (Pythian Games)
- Games in Corinth (Ancient Greek folk festivals)
- Games in Nemea (Nemean Games).
These Games were of particular importance, as they united the Greek world at a time when Greece was not a single state, but consisted of several city-states (politically and economically independent communities). From Greece and its colonies (in Italy, North Africa and Asia Minor) people came to take part in or attend the Games inspired by the shared sense of belonging to one culture or religion.
It should be noted that all four of the Panhellenic Games have never been held in the same year.
It is difficult to determine what caused the birth of these Games. Mythology is interspersed with historical facts, and the events that took place in those times are often explained as a result of divine providence. The same applies to the Panhellenic Games, of which there are many stories that attempt to explain their origin.

HOLY TRUCE

In connection with the Panhellenic Games, a sacred truce was proclaimed. Messengers (spondorophoroi) went from city to city, announcing the date of the competition. They called for a stop to wars before, during and after the Games, to enable athletes and spectators to travel to and from competition venues in complete safety. The atmosphere of the world was considered as an important condition for the competition.

GAMES FOR THE GODS

The Panhellenic Games were of great religious significance. Each Game was celebrated in honor of a god:
- Zeus, king of the gods - in Olympia and Nemea,
- Apollo, the god of light and reason, - in Delphi,
- Poseidon, god of the sea and patron of horses - in Corinth.

OLYMPIA VENUE OVERVIEW

Of the four Panhellenic Games, the Games held at Olympia were the most important and were considered a special event in the Greek world.
The competition venue consisted of a sacred area, a walled Altis, and a secular, non-religious area. The sacred area contained temples, including a temple dedicated to Zeus, altars where sacrifices took place, and treasuries erected by city-states where expensive offerings (such as vases and statues) were stored.
The secular zone was outside the boundary wall. There were such sports buildings as the gymnasium*, the palestra*, the stadium and the hippodrome, plus all the buildings where the Games were managed and the reception of important guests was carried out.
Only the priests and employees who looked after the temple lived in Olympia. During the competition, the atmosphere was very different. In addition to athletes and spectators, numerous merchants flocked to the competition site: the number of people present at the Olympic Games is estimated at over 40,000.

• The gymnasium is a state educational institution in ancient Greece for boys aged 16-18.
  Palestra is a private gymnastic school in ancient Greece for boys aged 12-16.

FESTIVALS AND COMPETITIONS HELD IN OTHER GREECE CITIES

In addition to the Panhellenic Games in Olympia, major competitions were held in Athens. They are known as the Panathenaic Games.
These Games were part of the Great Panathenaic, the biggest festival in Athens, which was held every four years in honor of the goddess Athena.
Throughout Greece and the colonies there were local competitions, some of which are more famous, others less so. Each city attached great importance to their organization.
The statutes of the Panhellenic Games and the large number of local competitions are an illustration of the importance of physical exercise and the spirit of competition in the society of ancient Greece.

ATHLETE

Some items created by the ancient Greeks have survived to this day. As a result of archaeological excavations, sculptures, vases, coins and tools were found. These objects give a good idea of ​​how people lived in those days. With their help, we can learn more about the athletes and the competitions in which they took part.

NUDITY

Looking at a sculpture or a scene depicted on a vase, we can easily recognize an athlete by his nakedness, because athletes were always naked during training and competition. Their beautiful bodies, created through physical exercise, served as a model for sculptors and artists who drew inspiration from athletes and their movements during sports.
It was believed that the beauty of the naked body reflects inner beauty and illustrates the harmony of body and mind. Sports activities helped to achieve and develop this harmony.

GYMNASIUM AND PALESTRA

Every Greek city had a gymnasium and a palestra. These were places where athletes trained and young men trained. They received a comprehensive education, including training both in body and mind. Physical education, music, arithmetic, grammar and reading were included in the curriculum. Depending on the sport, training could take place in one of the buildings.

HYGIENE AND BODY CARE

Upon arrival at the gymnasium or palestra, the athletes completely undressed. Having lost the protective layer of clothing, they had to take special care of their skin.
In preparation for training, the athlete covered the body with olive oil, and then sprinkled it with fine sand. The mixture of oil and sand helped to regulate body temperature, as well as protect from the sun and the trainer's stick, which the trainer used to beat the athlete if he did not perform the exercise correctly!
At the end of the competition, the athlete took his spatula (strigil), which had the shape of a curved plate, and scraped sweat, oil and sand from the skin. The procedure ended with washing the body with water and a sponge.
During the competition, the athlete looked after the skin in a similar way.
The equipment needed for these purposes was extremely simple:
- a vessel, a kind of small bottle, often earthenware, filled with oil;
- scapula;
- sponge.
All these items were connected by a ring, which the athlete attached to the wall of the gymnasium or palestra.

GAME PARTICIPATION

There were three criteria for participation in the Games: the participant had to be male, Greek and a free person. Women, slaves and foreign citizens were excluded.
Let's start with the fact that the athletes were not professionals. Despite the fact that most of them belonged to wealthy families, some athletes came from less wealthy backgrounds. Over time, the situation has changed and most athletes have become professionals. After the conquest of Greece by Rome in 146 BC. the Romans were allowed to join the Greek athletes. Later, the circle of participants was expanded to include athletes of foreign origin after the granting of Roman citizenship to all inhabitants of the provinces during the 248th Olympiad (213 AD).
To participate in the Games, the city chose the best athletes who trained in their gymnasiums. The selected athletes had to continue to train hard for several months. After the proclamation of the sacred truce and the announcement of the date for the Games, the athletes and their coaches went to Olympia. The journey could be long and difficult. Upon arrival in Ellis, located near Olympia, the athletes trained for a month at the city gymnasium, which was the last qualifying stage before the Games. Athletes who passed the final selection went to Olympia and took an oath, as did the judges. They promised to compete honestly, following the rules.

GAMES FOR WOMEN

Despite the fact that women were not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, they still played sports. In Olympia, the Games were held for girls, which were called Heraia, in honor of the goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus. These competitions were held every four years and consisted of a running race.

FRAUD AND FINES

Some athletes did not always keep the oath and made an attempt to win the competition using prohibited tricks. This form of cheating was punished and dishonest athletes had to pay a fine. This money went to the erection of statues of Zeus, known as "Zanas". These statues were placed along the passage leading to the stadium. On the basis of each of them the name of the deceiver was written. To get to the venue of the competition, the athletes had to pass by all the statues. It reminded them of examples unworthy of repetition.

FAMOUS ATHLETES

In history modern Games outstanding champions become heroes latest news. They are admired and revered, they are real heroes.
The games of antiquity also had their champions. Thanks to the demonstrated results, the names of famous athletes are known today. Below is a brief summary of some of them.
The legendary wrestler Milo from Croton, multiple Olympic champion, dedicated sports career 26 years of his life. Milo was a real hero. He has many other victories outside of Olympia to his credit. Known for his amazing strength, he was also famous for his immense appetite!
An outstanding Leonidas from Rhodes, a four-time Olympic champion in running, whom his compatriots equated with a god.
Boxer Melancomas from Caria, known not only for his magnificent body, but also for his unusual fighting technique. Melancomas did not strike at his opponents, but instead brought them to exhaustion, skillfully dodging their attacks!
After death, great champions were given special honors so that their victories at the Games would not be forgotten. Their graves were decorated with tombstones carved with images of wreaths received by athletes for victories in competitions throughout their sports career.

SPORTS INCLUDED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES PROGRAM

In the ancient world, the Olympic Games served as a starting point. Sports that were part of the Olympia competition program were often included with minor changes in the competition program held in other Panhellenic sports arenas, or with minor further changes, in local competitions. Here is the Olympic program. The program of the Games included only individual sports, team sports were not included. Water sports also featured on the program.

WHAT WERE THE GAMES?

The opening of the Games was marked by the sacrifice of animals on the altar of Zeus. The competition, which lasted for about five days, took place in a stadium or hippodrome.
The stadium was a heavily rammed earthen area of ​​a rectangular shape. There were no balconies, and the audience sat on special ledges. Officials (organizers and judges - Hellanodayks) were provided with a tribune.
Free men, slaves and girls had the right to watch the Games. Only married women were forbidden to be in the crowd of spectators.
The games ended with feasts in honor of the winner and sacrifices in honor of Zeus.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPORTS

With the exception of equestrian sports, which were held at the hippodrome, all competitions were held at the stadium.

WALKING COMPETITION

There were different types of competitions:
- stade or stadium (stadion) - running one length of the stadium;
- diaulos (diaulos) - running for two lengths of the stadium;
- dolichos (dolichos) - long-distance running (from 7 to 24 circles);
- running with weapons (in Olympia it was a run for two lengths of the stadium), when athletes
they put on a helmet, greaves of armor and held a shield in their hands.
Competitors took their places at the start line marked with white limestone slabs. They ran in a straight line, and not around the stadium, as is the case in our time.

DISC THROW

The disk was made of stone or metal. The famous statue by the sculptor Miron depicts an athlete preparing to throw the discus. This sculpture is called "Disco Thrower" (c. 40 BC). The original of the statue was destroyed, but there are a large number of copies dating from the period of the Roman Empire. For example, one of them is exhibited in the National Museum in Rome.

JAVELIN-THROWING

A leather strap was attached to the shaft of the spear, which formed a loop. During the throw, the athlete put the index and middle fingers, which allowed to increase the distance of the spear.

LONG JUMP

The exercise was performed with kettlebells. The athlete performed a forward jump from the initial position of the legs together, without a run-up, throwing his arms forward. During the jump, the arms and legs were almost parallel. Before landing, the athlete took his hands back, at the same time discarding the weights. This increased the movement of the legs forward and increased the distance in the jump.
The use of weights meant that the movements of the athlete must be coordinated. For this purpose, the competition was accompanied by a melody played on a flute.
Weights were made of stone or metal and had different shapes.

COMBAT SPORTS

There are several hypotheses regarding the venue for wrestling, fisticuffs and pankration competitions. Some researchers believe that these competitions were held in Altis in front of the altar of Zeus. Others believe that they were held at the stadium.

The draw decided which athletes would compete with each other. Unlike modern rules in those days there were no weight categories.

STRUGGLE

Opponents fought with their bare hands in a standing position. There were different types of captures. The athlete who first touched the ground for the third time was considered the loser.

PANKRATION

This is a kind of struggle. In this type of wrestling, all tricks were allowed, but it was forbidden to bite, gouge out eyes and stick fingers into the nose of the opponent.

BOXING

The hands of the wrestlers were protected by long leather straps. These forerunners of boxing gloves have undergone numerous modifications over time. Plates of metal were fixed on the knuckles, which greatly increased the impact.

PENTATHLON

The pentathlon consisted of five events: running, jumping, discus throwing, javelin throwing and wrestling. The athlete who took part in the competition was called pentathlos. It was the most versatile sport, so the body of the pentathlos was considered the most perfect.

EQUESTRIAN SPORTS

Chariot races and horse races were held at the hippodrome. Chariot races were very spectacular and especially popular with the population. There were quadriga races, when the chariot was driven by four horses, and pair races, when the chariot was driven by two horses. Chariot drivers were called charioteers. Unlike the athletes, the charioteers were not naked, but wore long tunics.
In horse racing, the jockeys were naked. They rode bareback and did not wear spurs.
Thanks to equestrian competitions, women were direct participants in the Games! As owners, they could enter their horses into races, where they were driven by male charioteers or jockeys.

MUSIC AND SINGING

Music and singing were not included in the program of the Olympic Games. They were a feature of the Delphi Games!
In Delphi, long before the appearance of sports competitions, musical tournaments were held. These included singing to the accompaniment of the cithara (or kithara, a type of lyre), flute solos, or singing to the accompaniment of the flute. Music and singing remained a characteristic feature of the Pythian Games even after the unification of sports competitions into a single whole. The program also featured competitions in poetry and drama.

PRIZES

CROWNS, RIBBONS AND PALM BRANCHES

At the modern Olympic Games, athletes who take first, second and third places, respectively, are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals. At the Panhellenic Games, there was only one winner who received a wreath or crown of leaves as a prize.
In each competition venue, crowns were made from different types of leaves:
- in Olympia - it was a crown of leaves of a wild olive tree;
- in Delphi - a crown of laurel;
- in Corinth - a crown of pine branches;
- in Nemea - a crown of wild celery.
Together with the crown, the winner received a red wool band, the tacnia. The famous statue by the sculptor Polykleitos (dated to the second half of the 5th century BC) depicts a victorious young man putting a victorious bandage on his head. The statue is called "Diadumen". Its bronze copy is installed at the entrance to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
And finally, the winner often held a palm branch in his hands - another symbol of victory.

NIKA, MESSENGER OF THE GODS

The ancient Greeks believed that it was the gods who made the decision to grant victory to the athlete. Victory was often depicted as a winged female creature known as Nike, which means "victory" in Greek. As a servant or messenger of the gods, Nike descended to the chosen one, carrying with her a divine reward in the form of a crown or bandage.

GLORY

The triumph of the winning athlete brought with it reflected glory to all the inhabitants of his hometown. When he returned from the Games, he was welcomed as a hero, and the athlete received numerous lifetime privileges.
To demonstrate his fame, the athlete had the right to erect a statue of himself. In addition, he could ask the poet to write poems telling about his exploits. Sometimes, feeling a sense of pride in their countryman, the inhabitants of the city cast coins with his portrait so that he would be remembered and recognized by the whole Greek world.

PRIZES IN LOCAL COMPETITIONS

Prizes awarded at local competitions were more material. The winner was often given an amphora filled with olive oil. In those days, olive oil was highly valued and cost a lot of money. Other treasures such as bronze tripods (large vases with three legs), bronze shields or silver goblets were also given as prizes.
Despite this, the prestige of the Panhellenic Games remained unshakable. The modest crown of leaves was the highest honor in the Greek world, as it guaranteed its owner the honor and respect of all inhabitants.

GAME END

GRADUAL DECLINE

Over the history of the Olympic Games, their importance has increased significantly. Starting as a simple running event, they have grown into a major sporting event. However, the level of the competition and the ethical principles of its participants were not always impeccable. This became especially evident after the conquest of Greece by Rome in 146 BC, when a period of "decline" began, which eventually led to the cessation of the Games.

There are several reasons for the disappearance of the Games:

- The professionalism of athletes
The Games have become a competition between professionals whose main motivation was to collect victories by participating in huge number competitions not only in the Panhellenic Games, but also in local competitions.
- Presence of Roman athletes among Greek athletes
The Romans promoted sport as a spectacle. Above all, they put the satisfaction of the desires of the audience. The spirit of competition, the desire to compare their achievements with the successes of others in an atmosphere of superiority was not interesting to them. The core message of the Games is under threat.
- Paganism Games
Belief in multiple gods was a feature of religions ancient world. The Games were no exception, as they were dedicated to pagan deities. The birth of Christianity with its belief in one God and the conversion of emperors to the new religion meant that holding the pagan Games became impossible.
It was Emperor Theodosius I, a new convert to Christianity, who in 393 AD, after more than a thousand years of existence of the Olympic Games, decided to abolish them! The rest of the Panhellenic Games held at Delphi, Corinus and Nemea ceased to exist at the same time.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GAMES VENUE AND ITS OPENING IN THE 19TH CENTURY

After the abolition of the games, Olympia became a victim of vandalism. Fires and earthquakes also played their part and destroyed buildings over time. Gradually, the place of the competition disappeared under a multi-meter layer of earth and from the memory of people.
Thanks to the work of ancient historians, the memory of the Games and their place in the Greek world was not completely forgotten. Their existence was known, but information about the specific location of the Games was lost.
In the 18th century began research work, and in the 19th century, as a result of archaeological excavations, the ruins of Olympia were finally discovered. Today, the study of the ruins allows us to appreciate the importance of Olympia and imagine the past glory of the Panhellenic Games.

The Olympic Games from inception to decline. There are many legends about the origin of the Olympic Games. All of them are associated with the ancient Greek gods and heroes.
The most famous legend tells how the king of Elis, Ifit, seeing that his people were tired of endless wars, went to Delphi, where the priestess of Apollo conveyed to him the command of the gods: to arrange pan-Greek athletic festivals pleasing to them. After that, Iphitus, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Athenian legislator and reformer Cliosthenes established the procedure for holding such games and entered into a sacred alliance. Olympia, where this festival was to be held, was declared a sacred place, and anyone who enters its borders armed is a criminal.
According to another myth, Zeus' son Heracles brought the sacred olive branch to Olympia and instituted the Games of Athletes to commemorate Zeus' victory over his ferocious father Cronus.
There is also a legend that Hercules, having organized the Olympic Games, perpetuated the memory of Pelops (Pelops), who won the chariot race of the cruel king Enomai. And the name Pelops was given to the Peloponnese region, where the "capital" of the ancient Olympic Games was located.
Religious ceremonies were an obligatory part of the ancient Olympic Games. According to the established custom, the first day of the Games was set aside for sacrifices: athletes spent this day at the altars and altars of their patron gods. A similar ceremony was repeated on the final day of the Olympic Games, when awards were presented to the winners.
At the time of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, wars stopped and a truce was concluded - ekecheria, and representatives of the warring policies held peace negotiations in Olympia in order to resolve conflicts. On the bronze disk of Ifit with the rules of the Olympic Games, which was stored in Olympia in the temple of Hera, the corresponding paragraph was recorded. “On the disk of Ifit is written the text of the truce that the Eleans declare for the time of the Olympic Games; it is not written in straight lines, but the words go around the disk in the form of a circle ”(Pausanias, Description of Hellas).
From the Olympic Games 776 BC. e. (the earliest Games that have come down to us - according to some experts, the Olympic Games began to be held more than 100 years earlier) the Greeks were counting a special "Olympic chronology", introduced by the historian Timaeus. The Olympic holiday was celebrated in the "holy month", beginning with the first full moon after the summer solstice. It was to be repeated every 1417 days that made up the Olympiad - the Greek "Olympic" year.
Starting as a competition of local importance, the Olympic Games eventually became an event of a pan-Greek scale. Many people came to the Games not only from Greece itself, but also from its colonial cities from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
The games continued even when Hellas fell under the control of Rome (in the middle of the 2nd century BC), as a result of which one of the fundamental Olympic principles was violated, which allowed only Greek citizens to participate in the Olympic Games, and even some were among the winners Roman emperors (including Nero, who "won" chariot races drawn by ten horses). It affected the Olympic Games and began in the 4th century BC. e. the general decline of Greek culture: they gradually lost their former meaning and essence, turning from a sporting event and a significant social event into a purely entertainment event, in which mainly professional athletes participated.
And in 394 AD. e. The Olympic Games were banned - as a "remnant of paganism" - by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly propagated Christianity. At the end of the 19th century
The Olympic Games were revived at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin

The Olympic Games from inception to decline. There are many legends about the origin of the Olympic Games. All of them are associated with the ancient Greek gods and heroes. The most famous legend tells how the king of Elis, Ifit, seeing that his people were tired of endless wars, went to Delphi, where the priestess of Apollo conveyed to him the command of the gods: to arrange pan-Greek athletic festivals pleasing to them. After that, Iphitus, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Athenian legislator and reformer Cliosthenes established the procedure for holding such games and entered into a sacred alliance. Olympia, where this festival was to be held, was declared a sacred place, and anyone who enters its borders armed is a criminal. According to another myth, Zeus' son Heracles brought the sacred olive branch to Olympia and instituted the Games of Athletes to commemorate Zeus' victory over his ferocious father Cronus. There is also a legend that Hercules, having organized the Olympic Games, perpetuated the memory of Pelops (Pelops), who won the chariot race of the cruel king Enomai. And the name Pelops was given to the Peloponnese region, where the "capital" of the ancient Olympic Games was located. Religious ceremonies were an obligatory part of the ancient Olympic Games. According to the established custom, the first day of the Games was set aside for sacrifices: athletes spent this day at the altars and altars of their patron gods. A similar ceremony was repeated on the final day of the Olympic Games, when awards were presented to the winners. At the time of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, wars stopped and a truce was concluded - ekecheria, and representatives of the warring policies held peace negotiations in Olympia in order to resolve conflicts. On the bronze disk of Ifit with the rules of the Olympic Games, which was stored in Olympia in the temple of Hera, the corresponding paragraph was recorded. “On the disk of Ifit is written the text of the truce that the Eleans declare for the time of the Olympic Games; it is not written in straight lines, but the words go around the disk in the form of a circle ”(Pausanias, Description of Hellas). From the Olympic Games 776 BC. e. (the earliest Games that have come down to us - according to some experts, the Olympic Games began to be held more than 100 years earlier) the Greeks were counting a special "Olympic chronology", introduced by the historian Timaeus. The Olympic holiday was celebrated in the "holy month", beginning with the first full moon after the summer solstice. It was to be repeated every 1417 days that made up the Olympiad - the Greek "Olympic" year. Starting as a competition of local importance, the Olympic Games eventually became an event of a pan-Greek scale. Many people came to the Games not only from Greece itself, but also from its colonial cities from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The games continued even when Hellas fell under the control of Rome (in the middle of the 2nd century BC), as a result of which one of the fundamental Olympic principles was violated, which allowed only Greek citizens to participate in the Olympic Games, and even some were among the winners Roman emperors (including Nero, who "won" chariot races drawn by ten horses). It affected the Olympic Games and began in the 4th century BC. e. the general decline of Greek culture: they gradually lost their former meaning and essence, turning from a sporting event and a significant social event into a purely entertainment event, in which mainly professional athletes participated. And in 394 AD. e. The Olympic Games were banned - as a "remnant of paganism" - by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly propagated Christianity. At the end of the 19th century The Olympic Games were revived at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin.