The ancient Greek Olympics began over 2,700 years ago in Olympia, Greece and were held every four years in honor of Zeus. Events included wrestling, boxing, jumping, throwing, and chariot racing. Only men competed, though unmarried women had their own Heraia festival. Around 50,000 spectators would attend the multi-day festival, which featured both athletic competitions and other celebrations. The Olympics helped unite the Greek city-states and were an important part of ancient Greek culture and religion.

1. The Greek Olympics
Right from the start in 776 BC -
2012

2. The Olympic games
A ncient Greeks loved sport and most cities in Ancient Greece had public gymnasiums
where people gathered to train and relax. The Greeks believed that a healthy body was very
important. Most men and boys practiced sports every day because they enjoyed them and
wanted to keep fit. Sport was a good preparation for war too. The Greek armies had to be fit
enough to march long distances, carrying all their heavy equipment, and then begin the
fight with the enemy.
T he Greeks had four national sports festivals, where athletes from different city
states competed against one another. The most important of the sports contests was the
Olympic Games. These were played at Olympia, every four years, in honor of Zeus. On the
first day of the Olympics, sacrifices of grain, wine, and lambs were made to Zeus.
Olympic Games
Greece is the home country of the Olympic Games. Olympia, a Greek city, was known to be
a very important center of athletics. The Olympic games, held there every four years, were
so important in Greek life that they were used as the basis for the Greek calendar.
The Olympic Games began over 2,700 years ago in Olympia, in southwest
Greece. The Games were part of a religious festival. The Greek Olympics,
thought to have begun in 776 BC, inspired the modern Olympic Games (begun in
1896) The Games were held in honour of Zeus, king of the gods, and were
staged every four years at Olympia, a valley near a city called Elis. People from
all over the Greek world came to watch and take part

3. Who were the ancient The earliest Greek civilizations thrived nearly 4,000 years ago. The
Ancient Greeks lived in Greece and the countries that we now call
Bulgaria and Turkey.
The Ancient Greece empire spread over Europe as far as France in the
East. The Greek Empire was most powerful between 2000 BC and
146 BC
Greeks?
The ancient Greeks developed new ideas for government, science,
philosophy, religion, and art.
Ancient Greece was split into many different states, each one was ruled
in its own way. Each state had its own laws, government and money but
they shared the same language and religion The two most important city
states were Athens and Sparta.

4. Where were the Olympic
Games held in Greece?The Olympics were held in Greece and
it was quite close to mount Olympus so
they decided to have it in a little village
called Olympia and that’s where they
light the Olympic torch relay from .

5. Why do we have an
The Olympics were part of a
religious event. They were
held in honour of Zeus, the
father of the gods and were
Olympics?
a big celebration.

6. Probably the pankration or all-in wrestling was the
nastiest event. There were hardly any rules. Biting and
poking people's eyes were officially banned, but some
competitors did both! While it does not seem very
The nastiest
sporting to us, all-in wrestling was very popular. Boxing
was tough too. The fighters wore leather gloves and a
boxer was allowed to go on hitting his opponent even
after he'd knocked him to the ground!
However, cheating was punished. Anyone caught
cheating, trying to bribe an athlete for instance, had to
pay for a bronze statue of Zeus, as a punishment.
event?

7. What was the sacred t
The city-states of Greece were often at
war. This made travel between them
dangerous. So messengers sent out
from Elis announced a 'sacred truce'
(peace) lasting one month before the
Games began. This meant people could
travel to Olympia in safety. The Olympic
Games were more important than wars
because they were a religious festival.
The messengers went all over the
Greek world, as the map shows.

8. At the first one-day Olympic Games, the only event was a short
Events at the game sprint from one end of the stadium to the other. Gradually more
events were added to make four days of competitions. They
included
• wrestling,
• boxing,
• long jump,
• throwing the javelin and discus,
• and chariot racing.
In the pentathlon, there were five events:
• Running,
• wrestling,
• javelin,
• discus and long jump.
One of the toughest events was the race for hoplites, men
wearing armour and carrying shields.
Winners were given a wreath of leaves, and a hero's welcome
back home. Winners might marry rich women, enjoy free meals,
invitations to parties, and the best seats in the theatre.
The running track was much wider than a modern one. Twenty
people could run at once.

9. Women in Olympia
Only men, boys and unmarried girls were
allowed to attend the Olympic Games.
Married women were not allowed into the
Olympic Games. Any women caught
sneaking in were punished! Women could
own horses in the chariot race though.
Unmarried women had their own festival at
Olympia every four years. This was the
Heraia, held in honour of Hera, wife
of Zeus. Women could compete in running
races, though only unmarried girls took
part. Winners were awarded crowns of
sacred olive branches, the same as men.
As a rule Greek women did not go in for
sport, unless they were Spartans.

10. spectator About 50,000 people could sit in the
stadium. Away from the arena, most
spectators had to find somewhere to pitch
their tents or sleep rough, but important
visitors and athletes had hotel rooms. It
was hot and overcrowded, and the water
supply was poor, at first not even a
proper drinking fountain. This didn't stop
people coming though!
The Games ended with a feast. Lots of
oxen were roasted in a giant barbecue.
Traders came to do business, Fun Facts
entertainers such as jugglers and Big sunhats were
banned, because
acrobats performed, and politicians made they blocked
speeches to the crowds. other spectators'
view.

11. Thank You For Watching !
I hope you learned lots
about the Ancient Greek
Olympics.
GO GREECE/GO GB!!!!!!!!!!
By Lucy Leeds