In ancient Greece in the period from 776 BC. e. until the end of the 4th century AD. e. competitions called Antique Olympias were held at regular intervals some games.

The Greeks themselves trace the history of athletic competitions to the 13th century. BC e. - the era of the life of a mythical hero who performed feats in wrestling and pankration. There is also mention of athletic competitions in the immortal Iliad: during the siege of Troy, in memory of the murdered Patroclus and under the leadership of Achilles, competitions were arranged. Male participants competed in running, fist fighting with full armament, wrestling, discus throwing, archery.

Most common disciplines

The most popular and main types of competitions were varieties of running: long run - from seven stages to twenty-four stages (from 1344 m to 4608 m); double run - distances in two stages (up to 384 m); stage run (distance 192 m). The Olympiads were distinguished by the names of the winners (from 1 to 13 competitions), the greatest of which was Leonidas of Rhodes, who won twelve victories in four Olympiads in the 2nd century. BC e. He was most adept at running hoplites (in full combat armor) for two stages in full hoplite combat gear, and later in the nude with a shield.

For the first time, wrestling, standing and on soft ground, was introduced into athletic competitions at the 18th Olympiad and represented pushes, various techniques and positions of wrestling equipment.

A fistfight follows at the 23rd Olympiad. Fisticuffs were considered the most dangerous type of competition (deaths were not ruled out) despite the fact that the fighters wrapped their hands with leather belts, they were forbidden to use footboards, gripping an opponent or kicking.

At the 33rd Olympiad, pankration (fist fight) is included in athletic competitions. This discipline included punches, kicks, strangulation, finger fractures and elements of wrestling techniques, while biting or eye gouging was prohibited.

At the 18th Olympiad, the pentathlon (pentathlon) was added, consisting of long jump, stage running, javelin and discus throwing, and wrestling.

The first chariot race was the sister of the king of Sparta, Kiniska, in such a form of Olympic competition as horse racing, because the owners of the chariots, not the riders, became champions. The history of the development of horse racing at the Olympic Games consisted of several stages: starting from 680 BC. e. (25th Olympiad) quadriga races appeared, then in 648 BC. e. - horse racing, and from 408 BC. e. (93rd Olympiad) - chariot races.

A natural combination of sport and aesthetic pleasure was the competition of heralds and trumpeters (in 396 BC at the 96th Olympiad).

All types of competitions at the Olympic Games in Antiquity were divided into competitions according to age categories - between men and boys.

Feb 11 2014

I have already written about the history and traditions of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. Today I would like to tell you about the sports in which ancient Greek athletes competed, as well as to tell some interesting stories about the failures and achievements of athletes of the distant past.

Run

From the 1st to the 13th Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, there was only one type of competition: running 192 meters, that is, from one end of the stadium to the other. A distance of 192 meters was considered one Olympic stage. Then they introduced running competitions to the double Olympic stage. One of the greatest runners of antiquity, whose name has been preserved by history, was Leonidas of Rhodes. In the II century BC, he took part in 4 Olympiads and came to the finish line first 12 times.

Running on a double stage, that is, 384 meters, was introduced in 724 BC and ran like this. Athletes had to run to the opposite end of the stadium, go around the pole and return to the starting line
In 720 BC, the so-called long run was introduced. The distance was 7 stages, 1344 meters. Sometimes it was further increased, bringing it up to 24 stages (4608 meters).

Another running discipline is hoplite running. In other sports (except for this and horse racing), including running, athletes competed completely naked. In the hoplite run, the athlete had to overcome 384 meters as quickly as possible in a helmet, greaves and with a shield in hand. Later, only the shield was left. This species was added in 520 BC at the 65th Olympic Games of Ancient Greece. Usually the hoplite run was the final part of the entire Olympics.

martial arts

Starting from 688 BC (the 23rd ancient Olympic Games), fisticuffs were introduced into the Olympics program. Most often, the victory was won by those fighters who managed to defeat the enemy without receiving a single blow. According to the rules, it was impossible to trip up an opponent, kick him, bite him, scratch out his eyes. The fighters put on protective leather straps on their hands. Athletes came out of the fight with broken teeth, broken noses, numerous bruises and fractures. Death from injuries was quite rare, although it did happen. However, a dead athlete could still be named the winner.

Important!

Doctors believed that fisticuffs were an excellent remedy for chronic headaches.

At the 72nd Olympiad in Ancient Greece, which was held in 492 BC, Cleomedes of Astypalea killed Ikkas of Epidaurus in a fistfight. The fighter was stripped of the title of winner. One of the first boxers whose name is remembered in the history of sports was Tisander from Naxos, who defeated all opponents during 4 Olympiads.

The second type of martial arts was introduced in 648 BC for men and in 200 BC for boys - pankration. In this type of hand-to-hand combat, not only punches, but also kicks, as well as all kinds of grabs, were allowed. The name "pankration" consists of two words: "pan" and "kratos", which means "with all my strength." It was impossible to bite an opponent, but it was possible to choke. Participating in the third battle of the pankration, Arichion from Figalea was strangled by the enemy and died. The judges still recognized him as the winner, because the opponent agreed to defeat, because the pain from Arichion's broken toe was unbearable. A laurel wreath was put on the lifeless body in honor of the victory. Sostratus from Sicyon became famous for holding the opponent's hands in battle and breaking the phalanxes of his fingers. At the 212th Olympiad, a certain Artemidorus of Thrall, who was supposed to fight alongside the youths, was insulted by an older participant. The guy could not bear it and went out to fight in pankration against the offender. He not only took revenge, but also became the strongest fighter among men.

In 708 BC wrestling appeared among the competitions. In it, only pushes were allowed, but any blows were forbidden. They fought both on earthen and sandy surfaces. Milon from Croton became the winner among the youths at one of the Olympics. It is curious that the wrestler was only 14, and some other opponents in his age category were 18-19 years old. The guy was so strong that he could break the rope tied around his head, bringing himself to the point where his veins bulged.

Pentathlon

Pentathlon is the first pentathlon in the program of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. Athletes competed in wrestling, stage running, long jump, discus throw and javelin throw. This type of competition was added in 708 BC.

All disciplines of the pentathlon were held on the same day. Athletes were divided into pairs and competed with each other. If someone defeated an opponent in 3 out of 5 disciplines, he was considered the winner. The winners competed among themselves until the final winner was determined. Aristotle believed that pentathlon is the best sport for the harmonious development of the body.

During long jump competitions, athletes held dumbbells in their hands to jump further.

horse racing

Horse racing is the only sport where a woman could be declared the winner. No, they themselves did not ride or ride in a chariot. It was just that the owner of the horse and chariot was recognized as the champion, and not the one who controlled them.

Warning!

The first female Olympic champion is the sister of the King of Sparta Kiniska

In 680 BC, races called "quadrig" were introduced into the program of the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece, in 648 BC. horse racing was added, in 408 BC. - racing chariots drawn by two horses. There were two age categories among the athletes: boys and men. Among the horses there are also two: horses and stallions.

The quadriga consisted of overcoming 12 laps on the hippodrome. Very often the chariots turned over, and the drivers remained crippled. Not everyone could take part in the races, but only royalty and very rich citizens. At the 68th Olympiad, which took place in 508 BC, at the very beginning of the race, one of the horses threw off the rider. Nevertheless, she ran the whole distance, turned where she was supposed to and crossed the finish line first. The victory was awarded to the owner of the horse, and the jockey was sent in disgrace to heal his wounds.

Creative competitions

In 396 BC, special disciplines were introduced: competitions of trumpeters and heralds. The Greeks and Romans were sure that for harmony a person must be developed not only physically, but spiritually. The Hellenes received great aesthetic pleasure from music. During the Olympic Games, poets read their poems, artists organized exhibitions of their paintings. At the end of the games, sculptors were asked to make statues of the winners, and poets were asked to compose songs of praise.

The ancient Greeks trace athletic competitions to the time of the life of the mythical Hercules, which they themselves identified in the 13th century. BC e .. Hercules, as befits a hero, won victories in wrestling and pankration.

In Homer's Iliad, the hero Achilles arranges games in memory of the deceased Patroclus. Participants in the Trojan siege drove chariots, ran a race, fought with fists (boxing), fought, fought in full armor to the first blood (the prototype of pankration), threw a disk of native iron, and shot from a bow. The most popular because of its democratic nature was running.

The ancient king Endymion put up his kingdom as a prize for winning the race, however, only his sons competed (Pausanias, 5.8.1). It was running that became the main type of competition at the ancient Olympics. After the dark ages of Greek history, ancient Greece resumed the Olympics in the 9th century. BC e. .

antique run

Stage running - dromos (lat. stadium), - running from one end of the stadium to the other for a distance of one Olympic stage (192.27 m). The first and only type of competition from the 1st to the 13th Olympiad (until 724 BC).

The Olympiads were traditionally counted by the names of the winners in that competition before being numbered in sequential order. Competitions among adults began with a run to the stage, then they competed in a double run. Athletes went to the start in the nude.

Double run - diaulos, - run in two stages (384 m). Athletes run through the stadium, turn around the post and head back to the start (Suda, delta, 807).

Added to the Olympic competition at the 14th Olympiad in 724 BC. e. (Pausanias, 5.8.4; Eusebius, Chronography).

Long run - dolichos, - run for 7 stages (1344 m). Athletes, running the stage, turned around a post at one end of the stadium, then ran the stage back and turned around the other post.

Added to the Olympic competition at the 15th Olympiad in 720 BC. e. (Pausanias, 5.8.6; Eusebius, Chronography). The length of the distance varied in different years from 7 to 24 stages (up to 4608 m).

Wrestling

Wrestling (lat. lucta) - added to the Olympic competitions at the 18th Olympiad (708 BC).

The rules forbade strikes, but pushes were allowed. The Greek language had many terms for various techniques and positions. The fight was divided into two main positions: in the rack and on the ground, or rather soft ground, sprinkled with sand.

Pentathlon

Pentathlon (lat. quinquertium, pentathlon) - includes running on the stage, discus throwing, javelin throwing, long jump and wrestling. Added to the Olympic Games at the 18th Olympiad in 708 B.C. e.

All events were held on the same day in a certain order, starting with jumps. It is not known exactly how the winner in the pentathlon was determined. According to one of the historians, the athletes were divided into pairs and competed with each other. The winner was considered to have won 3 types of competitions from the opponent. Then the winners competed among themselves until the final pair remained.

Aristotle believed that the pentathlon most harmoniously develops the athlete's body. The jumping technique was distinguished by its originality: the athlete used dumbbells in his hands to

increasing jump distance.

According to ancient authors, the maximum jump range reached 15 m. It is not known whether this was an exaggeration of the authors or the jump consisted of several stages, like a modern triple jump. According to modern researchers based on images on ancient Greek vases, the athlete jumped without a run, from a place.

Fist fight

Fist fight (lat. pugilatus) - Added to the Olympic competition at the 23rd Olympiad (688 BC).

Boxers who managed to win without getting hit by an opponent were especially respected. The rules in boxing forbade grabbing an opponent, tripping and kicking.

Boxers wrapped their hands with leather straps, however, this type of competition was considered the most dangerous.

Pausanias recounted one such duel at the Nemean Games (8.40.4):

“Krevg aimed his blow at the head of Damoxenus, and the latter forced Krevg to raise his hand. When he raised his hand, Damoxenus hit his opponent with straightened fingers under the ribs, and thanks to the force of the blow and the sharpness of the nails, he managed to penetrate inside the body, grab the insides and tear them apart when he pulled them out. Krevg died on the spot, and the inhabitants of Argos expelled Damoxenus for violating the agreement, according to which the rivals were to exchange one blow each. They awarded the victory to the dead Krevg."

If the boxers got tired, a rest break was allowed. If even after the rest the winner was not revealed, then the boxers exchanged the agreed number of blows without defending themselves.

The duel ended with the surrender of the opponent, the defeated raised his hand when he was unable to resist. Ancient healers considered boxing a good remedy for chronic headaches.

horse racing

First, at the 25th Olympiad (680 BC), quadriga races were introduced. Then horse racing was added to them at the 33rd Olympiad (648 BC), and at the 93rd Olympiad (408 BC) chariot races (quadrigs) with 2 horses in team.

Just as competitions were held in categories between men and young men, so in the races there were two categories: adult horses and stallions.

In races, quadrigas made 12 laps on the hippodrome, often the chariots overturned on turns, crippling the drivers. Unlike running and martial arts, only rich Greeks and royalty could take part in the races, who could afford to keep horses.

It was the owners of the horses, and not the drivers, who were considered the winners. Among the winners in quadriga races are the Macedonian king Philip II and the Roman emperors.

Pankration

Pankration is a hand-to-hand fight in which punches and kicks and wrestling techniques were combined. The word is derived from the Greek words pan and kratos, that is, it means approximately "with all the power."

Choking was allowed, biting and eye exposure were prohibited. This type of competition was introduced into the Olympic Games in honor of the mythical founder of the games, Hercules, who managed to defeat a huge lion only by strangling him, because the lion's skin was invulnerable to weapons.

Added as a type of Olympic competition at the 33rd Olympiad in 648 BC. e., for young men, pankration was introduced only at the 145th Olympiad in 200 BC. e.

Hopliten

Full Armor Run or Hoplite Run - Helmet, Leggings and Shield run in two stages. Later, only the shield was left of the weapons.

Added to the Olympic competition at the 65th Olympiad in 520 BC. e. Athletes turn naked as in other Olympic sports, with the exception of horse racing. The games ended with a run of hoplites.

It is traditionally believed that the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took place from 776 BC. e. to 394 AD e. every 4 years. They were a series of sports competitions between city-states and were one of the pan-Hellenic games. The inhabitants of Hellas gave them a mythological origin. They believed that the patron of the games is Zeus. On the eve of the Olympics, a sacred truce was declared so that athletes and spectators could freely get from their cities to the place of the games.

Competitions were held in Olympia, in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese. There was a sanctuary of Zeus with his statue, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. It was a sanctuary of a huge temple, reaching a height of 18 meters and a length of 66 meters. It was in it that the statue, made of ivory, was located. Its height was 12 meters.

The competition itself was held at the Olympic Stadium. In the 5th century BC e. it was expanded, modernized, and it began to accommodate 40 thousand spectators. Its sports field reached a length of 212 meters and a width of 32 meters. There was also a hippodrome with a length of 700 meters and a width of 300 meters. The victors were crowned with wreaths of olive leaves, and the games themselves were extremely important politically. Thanks to their showmanship and popularity, Hellenistic culture spread throughout the Mediterranean.

Only the inhabitants of ancient Greece could take part in the Olympic Games. At the same time, many athletes from remote cities had to prove their Greek origin. Citizens of other states were not allowed to participate in the games. Neither money nor noble birth could help here. All these questions were decided by the Hellanodics - the judges of the Olympic Games. They were chosen from the most worthy people, and they strictly monitored the observance of all the rules. But when the Romans conquered Greece, they also began to take part in sports.

The mythological origin of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece

There are several myths that explain the emergence of popular sports competitions. The most famous of them is given by the Greek historian Pausanias. According to him, the dactyl Hercules (not to be confused with the son of Zeus) with his 4 brothers came to Olympia to participate in sports competitions in honor of the newborn Zeus. Hercules defeated everyone, and an olive wreath was placed on his head. After that, the winner organized sports competitions with an order of 5 years according to the number of brothers.

Another myth concerns Pelops, the king of Pisa in the Peloponnese. Before him, King Oenomaus ruled in Pisa. He had a beautiful daughter, Hippodamia. The oracle predicted to the king that he would be killed by his daughter's husband. Therefore, Oenomaus set a condition for all suitors: the applicant for the daughter’s hand would ride with her on one chariot, and the king should catch up with them on the other chariot. If he catches up, he will kill the groom with a spear. But the young people did not know that the horses harnessed to the king's chariot were presented to him by Poseidon himself, and therefore they raced faster than the wind.

The suitors died one after another, and Hippodamia went on in the brides. But once a young and beautiful Pelops came to the royal palace to woo, and the royal daughter fell in love with him. Myrtilus (the son of Hermes) was the charioteer of the king, and Hippodamia persuaded him to replace the bronze axles of the wheels of the royal chariot with wax ones. For this, she promised Myrtilus the privilege of the first night. The driver could not resist the beauty of the young girl and agreed.

During the race, the wax heated up and melted. As a result, the chariot overturned, and the king fell to the ground and crashed to death. At the same instant, lightning struck the royal palace and reduced it to ashes. Only one wooden pillar remained, which stood for many centuries next to the temple of Zeus. And Pelops married Hippodamia and became the king of Pisa.

In memory of the untimely deceased Oenomaus, Pelops organized chariot races as funerary games. It was these funeral races that subsequently transformed into the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.

There is another myth attributed to Pindar. Allegedly, this ancient Greek lyricist claimed that the son of Zeus Hercules, having accomplished his 12 labors, established a sports festival in Olympia in honor of his father. Since then, it has been customary to consider Hercules the organizer of the Olympics.

The official version of the origin of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece

As for the official version, it is believed that the Olympic Games began in ancient times, then for some reason they stopped. They were again revived by the Spartan legislator Lycurgus, who lived in the 9th century BC. e. Participation in their renewal was also taken by the king of Elis Ifit and Cleisthenes from Pisa. These two people were contemporaries of Lycurgus, and they showed activity at the behest of the Delphic oracle. He declared that the people deviated from the gods, and this became the cause of wars and plague. With the restoration of games, all this will stop.

This version is presented by Pausanias, who lived in the 2nd century AD. e. And so it is impossible to trust her unconditionally. Most likely, the origins of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece date back to the Mycenaean period. At first, these were funeral games associated with magical rituals. Over the centuries, they were transformed into sports, and in this form they lasted 1000 years.

Wrestling competition at the Olympic Games

Throughout this vast period of time, the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were of extremely important political and economic significance. And so several powerful groups of the Greek aristocracy were constantly fighting for control of the sanctuary at Olympia. Sometimes it was taken by force, then others took it away, and so it went on for centuries. These games were the most prestigious of all 4 panhellenic games, but by 385 AD. e. came to a state of decline. The cause was floods, earthquakes, barbarian invasions. In 394, the games stopped at the command of the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who began the fight against pagan holidays.

sports

The total duration of each Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took no more than a week. At first, sacrifices were made in honor of Zeus, while several dozen bulls were slaughtered. Then there were festivities and feasts. Only after that it was the turn of the sports competitions themselves. The first such competitions ended during the day, as only one runner showed strength and endurance. But with the advent of the pentathlon and other types of sports competitions, one day was no longer enough, and the audience began to enjoy the performance of athletes for 3-4 days.

Running with shields and helmets

The main competition was the pentathlon - running, long jump, javelin throwing, discus throwing, Greek wrestling. No less popular were chariot races, which attracted a huge number of spectators. Running began to be practiced from 776 BC. e. This was the only kind of competition until 724 BC. e. And therefore the names of some winners are known even today. Runners ran 178 meters. Started running from a standing position. They ran naked on the rammed earth, and the sound of the trumpet served as a signal for the start of the competition.

The pentathlon began to be practiced in 708 BC. e. At the same time, running, jumping and throwing took place in the stadium, but the fight was arranged outside the temple of Zeus on a special platform, the ground of which was sand. It is difficult now to say how victory was awarded in the pentathlon. Perhaps the winner was the athlete who won in 3 events, since it was simply impossible to win in all 5 events. It is also assumed that only a small number of competitors reached the fight, and it was the winner in it who was considered the champion.

Chariot racing, drawn by 4 horses, began to be practiced from 680 BC. e. And in 500 BC. e. began to compete in wagons pulled by mules. Racing with 2 horses in a chariot got its start in 408 BC. e. Here we can recall the Roman emperor Nero. In 67 he took part in the chariot race at Olympia. To everyone's embarrassment, the emperor was thrown out of the chariot and could not finish the race. But the victory was awarded to Nero, believing that he would have won if he had finished the race.

It is not surprising to fly out of the chariot at such speeds and turns, here you involuntarily sympathize with Nero

In 648 B.C. e. began to practice pankration (fighting with a minimum of rules). And in 520 BC. e. there was a kind of sports called hoplitodromos. Its participants ran a distance of 400 meters in helmets, with knee pads and wooden shields.

In general, it should be noted that the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were extremely popular, and the winners were honored as national heroes. Some names of such people have come down to us from time immemorial. This testifies to the great respect and reverence for athletes, because they glorified not only their names, but also the cities in which they lived. The popularity of the Olympic Games was so high that they were revived in 1896 and are held to this day in different cities of the world. In this they differ from the ancient games, which were held only in Olympia..

Olympic Games - the most significant in the world sport competitions. They are held every four years. Every athlete dreams of winning these competitions. The origin of the Olympic Games dates back to ancient times. They were held as early as the seventh century BC. Why were the ancient Olympic Games called holidays of peace? In which country were they first held?

The myth of the origin of the Olympic Games

In ancient times, these were the greatest national festivals. Who is the founder of the ancient Olympic Games is unknown. Myths and legends played a significant role in the social and cultural life of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that the birth of the Olympic Games dates back to the time of Kronos, the son of the first god Uranus. In a competition between mythical heroes, Hercules won on the run, for which he was awarded an olive wreath. Subsequently, the winner insisted that a sporting event be held every five years. Such is the legend. Of course, there are other legends about the origin of the Olympic Games.

The historical sources confirming the holding of these festivities in ancient Greece include Homer's Iliad. This book mentions a chariot race organized by the inhabitants of Elis, the area in the Peloponnese where Olympia was located.

Holy Truce

A mere mortal who played a significant role in the development of the ancient Greek Olympic Games was King Ifit. During his reign, the interval between the competitions was already four years. Resuming the Olympic Games, Ifit declared a sacred truce. That is, during these festivities it was impossible to wage war. And not only in Elis, but also in other parts of Hellas.

Elis was considered a sacred place. It was impossible to wage war with her. True, later the Eleans themselves invaded neighboring areas more than once. Why were the ancient Olympic Games called holidays of peace? Firstly, the holding of these competitions was associated with the names of the gods highly revered by the ancient Greeks. Secondly, the aforementioned truce was announced for a month, which had a special name - ἱερομηνία.

About the sports in the Olympic Games held by the Hellenes, scientists still have not come to a consensus. There is an opinion that initially athletes competed only in running. Later, wrestling and chariot racing were added to the sports in the Olympic Games.

Members

Among the citizens in ancient Greece were those who were subjected to public dishonor and contempt by others, i.e. atymia. They could not become participants in competitions. Only respected Hellenes. Of course, the barbarians, who could only be spectators, did not take part in the ancient Olympic Games either. An exception was made only in favor of the Romans. At the ancient Greek Olympic Games, a woman did not even have the right to be present if she was not a priestess of the goddess Demeter.

The number of spectators and participants was huge. If at the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (776 BC) competitions were held only in running, then later other sports appeared. And over time, poets and artists got the opportunity to compete in their skills. During the festivities, even deputies competed with each other in the abundance of offerings to mythical deities.

It is known from the history of the Olympic Games that these events had a rather important social and cultural significance. Deals were made between merchants, artists and poets introduced the public to their creations.

Competitions were held on the first full moon after the summer solstice. It went on for five days. A certain part of the time was devoted to rituals with sacrifices and a public feast.

Types of competitions

The history of the Olympic Games, as already mentioned, is full of stories and legends. However, there is reliable information regarding the types of competitions. At the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, athletes competed in running. This sport was represented by the following varieties:

• Distance running.
• Double run.
• Long run.
• Running in full armor.

The first fist fight took place at the 23rd Olympiad. Later, the ancient Greeks added martial arts such as pankration, wrestling. It was said above that women did not have the right to take part in competitions. However, in 688 BC, special competitions were created for the most purposeful inhabitants in ancient Greece. the only sport in which they could compete, there were horse races.

In the fourth century BC, a competition between trumpeters and heralds was added to the program of the Olympic Games - the Hellenes believed that aesthetic pleasure and sport had a logical connection. Artists exhibited their works on the market square. Poets and writers, as mentioned above, read their writings. Sculptors were sometimes ordered statues of winners after the end of the Games, lyrics in honor of the strongest and most dexterous composed laudatory songs.

Ellanodons

What were the names of the judges who watched the course of the competition and awarded awards to the winners. Ellanodons were appointed by lot. The judges not only presented the award, but also managed the organization of the entire event. At the first Olympic Games there were only two, then nine, and later ten. Beginning in 368 BC, there were twelve Hellanodons. True, later the number of judges decreased. The Ellanodons wore a special purple robe.

How did the competition start? Athletes proved to spectators and judges that the previous months were devoted exclusively to preliminary preparation. They took an oath in front of the statue of the main ancient Greek god - Zeus. Relatives of those wishing to compete - fathers and brothers - also took an oath. A month before the competition, the athletes demonstrated their skills in front of the judges at the Olympic Gymnasium.

The order of the competition was determined by drawing lots. Then the herald publicly announced the name of the contestant. Where were the Olympic Games held?

Sanctuary of Ancient Greece

Where the Olympic Games were held is already clear from the name. Olympia is located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. This was once located temple-cultural complex and sacred grove of Zeus. On the territory of the ancient Greek sanctuary there were religious buildings, monuments, sports facilities and houses in which the participants and guests lived. This place was the center of Greek art until the fourth century BC. Later they were burned by order of Theodosius II.

The Olympic Stadium was built gradually. He became the first in ancient Greece. In the fifth century BC, this stadium received about forty thousand spectators. For training, a gymnasium was used - a structure whose treadmill was equal in length to the one that was located at the stadium itself. Another platform for preliminary preparations - palestra. It was a square building with a courtyard. Mostly athletes who competed in wrestling and fisticuffs trained here.

Leonidoyon, which served as a function, was built in the fifth century BC according to the project of a well-known architect in Ancient Greece. The huge building consisted of a courtyard surrounded by columns and included many rooms. The Olympic Games played an important role in the religious life of the Hellenes. That is why here the locals erected several temples and shrines. The buildings fell into disrepair after an earthquake that occurred in the sixth century. The hippodrome was finally destroyed during the flood.

The last Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took place in 394. Banned by Emperor Theodosius. In the Christian era, these events were regarded as pagan. The revival of the Olympic Games occurred after two millennia. Although already in the 17th century, competitions reminiscent of the Olympic ones were held repeatedly in England, France and Greece.

Revival of ancient Greek traditions

The forerunners of the modern Olympic Games were the Olympia, held in the middle of the 19th century. But they, of course, were not so large-scale and had little in common with the competitions, which in our time take place every four years. French Pierre de Coubertin played a significant role in the revival of the Olympic Games. Why did the Europeans suddenly remember the traditions of the ancient Greeks?

In the middle of the 17th century, archaeological research was carried out in Olympia, as a result of which scientists discovered the remains of temple structures. The work continued for more than ten years. At that time, everything related to Antiquity was popular in Europe. Many public and cultural figures became infected with the desire to revive the Olympic traditions. At the same time, the French showed the greatest interest in the culture of holding sports competitions in Ancient Greece, although the archaeological discoveries belonged to the Germans. This can be easily explained.

In 1871, the French army was defeated, which significantly undermined the patriotic spirit in society. Pierre de Coubertin believed that the reason was the poor physical preparation of the soldiers. He did not try to inspire his compatriots to fight against Germany and other European powers. The French public figure spoke a lot about the need to improve physical culture, but also advocated overcoming national selfishness and establishing international understanding.

First Olympic Games: new time

In June 1894, a congress was held at the Sorbonne, at which Coubertin presented to the world community his thoughts on the need to revive the ancient Greek traditions. His ideas were supported. On the last day of the congress, it was decided to hold the Olympic Games in two years. They were supposed to take place in Athens. The International Competitions Committee was headed by Demetrius Vikelas. Pierre de Coubertin took over as general secretary.

The 1896 Olympic Games were the biggest sporting event ever. Greek statesmen put forward a proposal to hold the Olympic Games exclusively in their homeland. However, the committee decided otherwise. The venue for the Games changes every four years.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Olympic movement was not widely popular. This is partly due to the fact that at that time the World Exhibition was held in Paris. Some historians believe that the Olympic ideas were saved thanks to the intermediate games of 1906, held again in Athens.

Differences between modern Games and ancient Greek

Competitions were resumed on the model of ancient sports competitions. The modern Olympic Games unite athletes from all states; discrimination against individuals on religious, racial, political grounds is not allowed. This, perhaps, is the main difference between the modern Games and the ancient Greek ones.

What did the modern Olympic Games borrow from the ancient Greek? First of all, the names themselves. The frequency of the competitions was also borrowed. One of the purposes of the modern Olympic Games is to serve the world, to establish mutual understanding between countries. This is in tune with the ideas of the ancient Greeks about a temporary truce during the days of the competition. The Olympic fire and torch are the symbols of the Olympics, which, of course, originated in antiquity. Some terms and rules for holding competitions were also borrowed from the ancient Greeks.

There are, of course, several significant differences between the modern Games and the ancient ones. The ancient Greeks held sports events exclusively in Olympia. Today the Games are organized each time in a different city. In ancient Greece, there was no such thing as the Winter Olympics. Yes, the competition was different. In antiquity in the Olympic Games were attended not only by athletes, but also by poets.

Symbolism

Everyone knows what the symbol of the Olympic Games looks like. Five fastened rings in black, blue, red, yellow and green. However, few people know that these elements do not belong to any particular continent. sounds in Latin, translated into Russian means "faster, higher, stronger". The flag is a white cloth with rings. It has been raised at every Games since 1920.

Both the opening and closing of the Games are accompanied by a grandiose, colorful ceremony. The best organizers of mass events are involved in the development of the script. Famous actors and singers strive to participate in this spectacle. The broadcast of this international event attracts tens of millions of viewers around the world to television screens.

If the ancient Greeks believed that in honor of the Olympic Games it was worth suspending any hostilities, then in the twentieth century the opposite was true. Sports competitions were canceled due to armed conflicts. The games were not held in 1916, 1940, 1944. Russia has hosted the Olympics twice. In 1980 in Moscow and in 2014 in Sochi.