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Content: Athletes usually competed nude, proudly displaying their perfect bodies. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete; women, once they were married, were not even allowed to watch any Olympic
events, except for chariot races. However, every four years, women held their
own games, called the Heraeaafter Hera, held at Argos, and beginning as early as the 6th century B.C. and lasting at least six centuries until Roman
rule. How was the Olympics a sacred festival? Unlike our modern Olympic games, the ancient Greek Olympic games was a religious
rather than secular festival, celebrating the gods in general and  Zeus in
particular. The contests themselves alternated with altar rituals and sacrifices,
as well as processions and banquets. Individual competitors trained rigorously
not only for personal glory, but also to impress and please a god through
demonstrating  strength and agility. Although one legend suggests that Heracles won a race at Olympia and decreed
that races should be instituted every four years, the most common legends
suggest that Zeus originated the games after he defeated Cronus in battle. Many events occurred at the Olympic stadium near the temple of Zeus in Olympia
southwest of Athens.