The Olympic Games

Epictetus on the Ancient Olympic Spectator

Aren’t you devoured by the fierce heat? Aren’t you smashed in the crowd?

Aren’t you upset by the noise, the roar of the crowd and other disturbances?

But it appears to me that you are well able to endure and indeed happily suffer all of this, when you consider the exciting spectacles you will see.

The First Games

Historical date is 776 BCE

Founder: Zeus, Hercules or Pelops

Held at Olympia, in Elis every 4 years

Where Is Olympia?

The Origin of the Games Originally lasted only

one day

Contests confined to running and wrestling

First winners were usually Spartan

Held after the harvest was over

Olympic Truce

No taking up of weapons or legal disputes

Guarantee safe passage for athletes and spectators to and from Olympia

Lasted up to 3 months

Ancient Events Discus

Javelin

Long Jump

Footrace

Wrestling

Ancient Events Boxing

Equestrian Events

Chariot Racing

Riding

Pankration

Famous Athletes

Milo of Kroton

540 BCE

Warrior/Athlete

Theagenes of Thasos

480 BCE

Statue of a god

Zeus, the Olympic God

Games were part of a religious festival to honor Zeus

Geographical convenience of Olympia

Competitors

Anyone who was free-born and spoke Greek

Separate categories for men and boys

No female competitors

The Woman Who Dared . . .Married females were banned from

watching the games (under penalty of death).

Unmarried females were allowed to watch“A widowed woman dared to watch her son

compete . . . Disguised as a trainer, she slipped into the training area, but she revealed herself when leaping over a barrier.” (Pausanias 5.6.8)

Winner Takes All

Crown of olive leaves

Statue at Olympia

Increased glory for his community

Financial Benefits – but, remember the story of the Persian king?

Cheater, Cheater

What happened if an athlete cheated?

How did atheletes cheat?

Did judges ever cheat?

Not Just Athletics

Time for Greeks to discuss political issues

Form military alliances

Celebrate military victories

Training GroundsPalaistra

Strigil

The tale of Glaukos“Glaukos was a farmer. One day the

ploughshare detached from the plough and his father noticed him hammering it back in with his fist . . . . The old father decided take his son to the next Olympic Games . . . When he came to face his last opponent he was so badly wounded everyone thought he would have to admit defeat, but his father cried out, “Son, remember the ploughshare,” and Glaukos bashed his opponent so hard the contest ended.” Pausanias 6.10.1-3

Pankration

Most violent of sports

“folk with the smashed ears” Plato

Wrestling

Bending of fingers allowed

Gouging and biting forbidden

Wrestlers were respected

Pankration

Wrestling,

kung fu

boxingQuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Important Dates in Olympic History

1700-1200 BCE sports festivals on Crete and Greece

776 BCE founding date of Olympic Games

424 Spartan threatSpartans fined and not allowed to

compete that year

End of the Ancient Games

Athletes begin to credit themselves and not Zeus; religious and national unity breaks down

80 BCE Sulla transfers the games to Rome

Temples converted to honor humansAugustus & Alexander the Great