Title: Ancient Greek Olympics: 27 Historical Facts On The Festival And Its Games
Headings: Ancient Greek Olympics: 27 Historical Facts On The Festival And Its Games
Ancient Greek Olympics: 27 Historical Facts On The Festival And Its Games
1. Olympia Was Home To The Site Most Sacred To Zeus
2. The Ancient Olympics Were Originally Funeral Games
3. The Olympic Truce Was Signed Before The Games Began
4. The Ancient Greek Olympics Were Held At The Height Of Summer
5. There Was A Hotel At The Ancient Olympics
6. Greek Colonies Held Treasuries At Olympia
7. Victorious Athletes Had Poems Written For Them
8. Many Modern Elements Of The Games Did Not Exist In The Ancient Olympics
9. Women Did Not Participate In The Ancient Olympics
10. Event Rules Were Enforced With Violence
11. The First-Ever Event Held At The Games Was The 200 Metres
12. Each Event Was Originally Intended As Training For War
13. Athletes Tied Up Their Penises While Competing
14. The Pentathlon Was One Of The Oldest Events At The Games
15. Discus-Throwing Is Thought To Have Originated From A Story In Homer’s Iliad
16. The Ancient vs. Modern-Day Long-Jump Events Are Very Different
17. The Boxing Event Dates Back To The Minoan And Mycenaean Periods
18. The Pankration Was The Most Violent Sport At The Ancient Greek Olympics
19. Chariot Racing Was Associated With The Dead Passing Into Hades
20. The Rider Running Alongside His Horse Event
21. Olive Wreaths Were Awarded To Winners At The Ancient Greek Olympics
22. Victors In The Ancient Olympics Received A Variety Of Prizes And Honours
23. Some Honours For Ancient Olympic Victors Lasted A Lifetime
24. Great Feasts Were Held For The Olympic Victors
25. The Final Ancient Greek Olympics Were Held In The AD 380s
26. Baron De Coubertin Revived The Olympic Games In 1896
27. The Logo of the Olympic Games Still Used Today Was Created by the Baron

Content: The Ancient Olympics Were Originally Funeral Games
Historians believe that, despite some Greek mythological origin stories, the ancient Olympics actually developed from funeral games held in honour of deceased local heroes in the Bronze Age. Pelops, in particular, was a hero local to Olympia and his grave is still said to be in the Altis. 3. The Olympic Truce Was Signed Before The Games Began
Map of ancient Greece, via TES
Each participating city-state had to sign up to the Olympic Truce. This decreed that states at war should temporarily halt hostilities. This, in turn, allowed safe passage across Greece for athletes and spectators traveling to Olympia. Three heralds were sent out to announce the news of the Truce and the dates of the Games to all the states involved. 4. The Ancient Greek Olympics Were Held At The Height Of Summer
To hold a physically demanding games-festival during the hottest part of the year may seem counter-intuitive. However, this was also the quietest time of the year for agricultural work, the main economy of ancient Greece.