Title: Ancient Olympic Games - Wikipedia
Headings: Ancient Olympic Games
Ancient Olympic Games
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Contents
Origin mythology
History
Prehistory
First games
Olympiad calendar
Early history
Imperial period
Roman conquest of Greece
Augustus
Nero
Renaissance
Decline
Location
Culture
Politics
Events
Running
Combat
Discus
Long jump
Pentathlon
Equestrian events
Famous athletes
Olympic festivals in other places
See also
References
Bibliography
Further reading
External links

Content: The ancient Olympics had fewer events than the modern games, and only freeborn Greek men were allowed to participate, although there were victorious women chariot owners. As long as they met the entrance criteria, athletes from any Greek city-state and kingdom were allowed to participate. The games were always held at Olympia rather than moving between different locations as is the practice with the modern Olympic Games. Victors at the Olympics were honored, and their feats chronicled for future generations. Contents
1 Origin mythology
2 History
2.1 Prehistory
2.2 First games
2.2.1 Olympiad calendar
2.3 Early history
2.4 Imperial period
2.4.1 Roman conquest of Greece
2.4.2 Augustus
2.4.3 Nero
2.4.4 Renaissance
2.5 Decline
3 Location
4 Culture
5 Politics
6 Events
6.1 Running
6.2 Combat
6.3 Discus
6.4 Long jump
6.5 Pentathlon
6.6 Equestrian events
7 Famous athletes
8 Olympic festivals in other places
9 See also
10 References
11 Further reading
12 External links
Origin mythology
To the Ancient Greeks, it was important to root the Olympic Games in mythology. During the time of the ancient games their origins were attributed to the gods, and competing legends persisted as to who actually was responsible for the genesis of the games. These origin traditions have become nearly impossible to untangle, yet a chronology and patterns have arisen that help people understand the story behind the games. Greek historian, Pausanias provides a story about the dactyl Heracles (not to be confused with the son of Zeus and the Roman god Hercules) and four of his brothers, Paeonaeus, Epimedes, Iasius and Idas, who raced at Olympia to entertain the newborn Zeus. He crowned the victor with an olive wreath (which thus became a peace symbol), which also explains the four-year interval, bringing the games around every fifth year (counting inclusively). The other Olympian gods (so named because they lived permanently on Mount Olympus) would also engage in wrestling, jumping and running contests.