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: 7. Victorious Athletes Had Poems Written For Them
Bust of Pindar, via Fonte Aretusa
Winners at the ancient Greek Olympics often had victory poems or ‘Odes’ written to honour them by the famous poets of the 5th century B.C, Pindar and Bacchylides. These poems would be performed by a chorus when the victor arrived back in his home state and are also excellent sources of literature for our understanding of the ancient Games. 8. Many Modern Elements Of The Games Did Not Exist In The Ancient Olympics
Many well-known modern Olympic traditions such as the torch relay, which brings the torch from one host city to another, did not exist in the ancient Games. The image of the five Olympic rings is also a modern creation. Interestingly, the marathon event, although named after an ancient Greek place and battle, also was not part of the ancient schedule of events. 9. Women Did Not Participate In The Ancient Olympics
Bronze statue of a Spartan woman, via The Idle Woman
Married women were prohibited from attending the games as competitors or spectators. One woman, Pherenike of Rhodes, disguised herself as a male boxing trainer.