More than two millennia ago, Olympia composed of myths and legends, it praised the philosophers, historians and poets.She was famous shrines, temples of Zeus and Hera, historical monuments, construction of which dates back to the II millennium BC.Later, in honor of the Olympic Games was built different structures and set numerous statues, including the famous majestic statue of Zeus.It is here that tens of thousands of residents were going to Greece to become the participants and witnesses of the biggest sporting events of antiquity.
National hero Hercules, the legendary king Pelops, the Spartan lawgiver Lycurgus, king of Elis Ifit - with these names in the myths and legends associated with the appearance of sports in the sacred Olympia.The fact that they were held for the first time, there is no consensus.It is considered accurate the date embossed on a marble slab next to the name of the winner in the competition runners.776 BC.e.I entered into the annals of sports as the year in which were held the first Olympic Games in ancient Greece.On the bottom of the opening and the start of a three-month truce in the Hellenic cities recognized by the messengers of the Temple of Zeus.
for contestants there were strict restrictions.They became a born-free citizens of Greek origin who are not mired in breach of oath, or other dishonest act of a crime.According to the Olympic rules, athletes, announced its participation in the main competition every four years, was given 10 months to prepare, and a month before the start of the Olympics they had to come to Olympia and to demonstrate their willingness to participate in competitions.Women are forbidden to be in the festival on the territory of the sanctuary of Zeus, and of course, the Olympic Games of ancient Greece were made without their participation.
In the first thirteen Olympics runners competed only one distance component, depending on the length of the step 175 judges - 192, 27 meters.At the fifteenth Olympiad appeared pentathlon, which consisted of running, wrestling, discus and javelin, long jump.After some time, the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, enriched its program with new contests - fist fights and chariot races, pulled by two or four horses.In 648 BC, the program was included pankration - the most violent and difficult kind of competition, connecting the struggle and fisticuffs.The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece also included a horse race and run in military equipment.
Being a member of a religious cult, the Olympic Games in ancient Greece began and ended with religious ceremonies.The athletes performed the first day of games at the altars of their gods and altars, patron, and on the final day after the presentation of awards to the winners repeated ritual.Won a victory in the Olympics was valued very highly as glorified not only athletes, but also the policy to be submitted to them.
With the arrival of the Romans the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, the former gradually lost momentum, and soon lost and the previous value.394 year was the date of the prohibition of games Roman Emperor Theodosius, who saw in the sports festival pagan rite.
