History and Origin of the Ancient Olympic Games Essay

The quaint exceptional games represent a soften of Ancient Greek history that the world continues to celebrate to xxiv hours. Every tetrad years world nations gather at a specific billet to compete in the surpassing games. This coming to tickher of world nations stand fors a time of peace and unity among the world. With each victory came honor, glory and surcharge for the winning athlete and their country. The history and parentage of the majestic games includes religious celebrations, fabulous stories as well every embracing Greeces love and assess of pure athleticism. This paper will discuss the history and ascendent of the antique exceeding games. It will elaborate upon the fact that the history and origin of the prodigious games include religious celebrations, fig manpowertical stories as well as tit Greeces love and respect of pure athleticism.Establishment of Games in capital of WashingtonThe Olympic games pertain to a key issue on the worldwide level, w hich features winter, and summer sports and invites thousands of athletes for the purpose of participation in various competitions. The Olympic games atomic number 18 acknowledged as the leading competition of sports globally, in which at that place argon over 200 nations as participants1. The Ancient Olympic games were established in capital of Washington in 776 BC, creating an institution that would continue by dint ofout the world for thousands of years.Initially, from the eight-spoth coke BC to the 4th century AD, the antique Olympic games got their origin in Olympia, Greece. Many studies give an account of the ancient Olympics, which, according to their observation, were held in Greece approximately 3,000 years back. Though they were very ancient in origin, they started beingness considered and called as classical games already by the end of the 6th century BC. By that time, there were three sporting festivals, which had gained remarkable significance as well aspopulari ty. They include the Nemean Games at Nemea the Pythian games, held at Delphi and the Isthmian Games, which were held full Corinth. Later, there were various similar festivals, which took place in virtually cl cities, including Odessus, Alexandria, Rome, Antioch, and Naples. on that point incur been various legends and myths connected with the background and origin of the ancient Olympic games. They are a mirror image of the Greek polishs mythic-religious nature. For instance, in the ancient Greece, it was a tradition and religious cover that all the festivals and celebrations were to be performed in honor of a particular divinity. Thus, these Olympic games and related festivals were conducted under the patronage of the Greek leader of the pantheon of gods, Zeus. It is said that the Olympia was marked by Zeus as his revered zone through bolt of thunder, which he flung on Mount Olympus from his throne.It is said that to mark that foretell spot, a stunning altar of Zeus was create d at Olympia, which is situated in the North from his spectacular synagogue. Then, there is a nonher very remarkable myth regarding the Olympics with reference to the Hercules, the greatest Greek hero. It is said that in order to get freedom from the slavery to King Eurystheos of Argos, the hero had to complete twelve labors. Once, the Hercules was do with it, he celebrated the success by making a change in the orchard, laying out the borders of the Altis, and establishing the Olympic games in honor of Zeus. He determined the distance for the race in a special focussing for six hundred times, he put one foot in front of the other2.Establishment of the Olympic CalendarThe Greeks had a different calendar for holding the Olympic games. They observed that 99 lunar months made eight solar years. Therefore, they established a late calendar, which was known as the octaeteris and was around 99 lunar months. They arranged the calendar in such a way that there were eight years in which each of the phoebe bird years contained twelve months and the rest three years comprised of 13 months. The unembellished three months were inserted in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th years.It was believed by the Greek historians that the Greeks unploughed the 8-year calendar when the Olympic games were invented in the 776 BC. Later, the dickens four-year periods were measured as the octaeteris one of the 50 months and one of 49 months and they madethese 4-year periods known as the Olympiads3. These four years periods exist today as well, and in the month of February, after every four years, a leap day is added up and the Olympics are conducted. Thus, the Olympic games are held according to the Olympic Calendar based on a four year Olympiad.Sacred TruceThe truce carries the meaning the divide of hostilities and the holding of hands in the Greek language. It had begun in the form of a month-long Holy Treaty between King Lykourgos of Sparta, King Iphitor of Elis, and King Kleosthenes of Pis a in 824 BC. A bronze discus had the terms of this truce carved upon it, and it was kept in Altis, in the Temple of Hera at Olympia. The Truce was principally meant to go to bed peace and harmony all across Greece. It covered the following clauses Armies and weapons were not permitted to enter Elis The hostile areas were safe for travelling of the frontees whose city-state was at war There was no permission for the death penalties.Before the beginning of the Olympic festivals, the password of the truce was spread through the three news bearers, decorated with miscellanea of olive, and staff carriers, who went to every city of Greece. It was the duty of the antecedent to confirm the festivals date in order to invite the residents to participate and attend as well as to proclaim the truce of Olympic. Thus, they were known as the truce-bearers (spondophoroi) and the permanent legal advisors to the Eleans and official warrantors of the truce. The sacred truce played an main(pre nominal) role in the Olympics. Before the truce, the mainland Greece region was disturbed by the turmoil and civil wars. However, after the safety was guaranteed to the people by sacred truce, the ancient Olympic games got popularity and became a source of unity and peace amongst the people of Greece.Athletes in the Olympic gamesUntil the 1970s, the Olympic athletes were not permitted to accept any sort of prizes or endorsements, and no professionals were permitted to enter into the competition of Olympic games. The professional athletes were thought to have undue gain over the participants who played the games as their hobby. The victor in the ancient Olympic was given first prize when the competitionended. The herald announced the name of the winner, and, a Greek Judge, Hellanodikis, would put a touch branch in his hands, and the audience threw flowers at him and cheered him. In order to symbolize victory, red ribbons were tied on his hands and head.4 On the last day when the ga mes completed, an official award ceremony would be conducted, at the prominent manor hall at Zeus temple. The Olympic winners name, with his father and motherlands name would be announced loudly. The Hellanodikis would then, place the holy wreaths of olive tree, or kotinos, on the head of the winner5.In the ancient Olympic games, the participants were all the free male citizens of Greece, irrespective of their social status. Diagoras, a member of a royal family from Rhodes Polymnistor, a shepherd Orsippos, Alexander I, son of Amyndas and King of Macedonia a general from Megara and Democritus, a philosopher, all participated in the Olympics. The only people not allowed to participate in the ancient Olympics were the married women. 4 Ancient Olympic Games, Olympic.org. 2012, 5 Ancient Olympic Games, Olympic.org. 2012 However, those women who were single were permitted to attend and watch the competition.The goddess of fertility, priestess of Demeter, was permitted an honor place nex t to the altar of Stadium. Athletic Events Divisions divided between men and boys would divide athletic events. According to the writings of Pausanias, the first Olympic event was the foot race. The victor was Coroebus.6 This initial foot race was known as the stadion. The athletes would sprint for one stade or the length of the stadium. 7 Fourteen festivals afterwards the double foot race was added. This race was known as a two-stade race or two lengths of the stadium. Long distance races were added ranging from seven to twenty-four stades. 8 Another stade event involved athletes running between two and four stades wearing full military armor.This armor weighed about fifty dollar bill sixty pounds. The Pentathlon would be added as well. The Pentathlon included five different events. The events included discus, javelin, bound, running and wrestling. This event is still included in todays Olympic games. carry racing would be one of the equestrian events the ancient Greeks includ ed in the games. There were two and four horse chariot races. According to Plato, the family with the battered ears (Plato) described the athletes who participated in the sport of boxing.9 6. Pausanias, 5.1-157. perseus.tufts.edu/edu8.Pausanias, 5.1-159. perseus.tufts.edu/eduRome and the ultimate End of the Olympic gamesThe family memorial monument of the Philip II of Macedonia was being constructed at Olympia, and his son, Alexander the Great, witnessed the completion. Philip II and his offspring attributed a huge importance to Olympia. They offered financial help and gifts to the Olympia and were a source of inspiration for the other blue donors, who started doing the same. When the Classical period was near its end, the attitude towards the Games started to diminish, which as well as reflected the eventual declivity in ancient Greeces history.10 Where once Zeus was worshipped, winners now placed their coronets at the foot of their benefactor god and where once all the pers ist and success was credited to the help of the deities, now it was ruled and commanded by the athletes in the glory of their personal achievements and successes. The religious importance of the Olympic games begun to decline, and it became more of a world-premiere athletic contest than a religious festival.This era focused mainly on athletes instead of the divine spirits, and it was clear in the construction of facilities at Olympia. It was between the 1st and 3rd centuries that more facilities to assist the athletes were built, which included the discipline to the athletes baths, a palaistra, a big practice gym for the track competitors, and a stadium sort of place to help the athletes train and practice for the jumping and combat events. In the earlier years of the 2nd century BC, there begun the papistic intervention in Hellenic affairs, and they end up presently imposing rules on Macedonia and Greece and ending the independence of Greece in 146 BC. Thus, it was the end of th e religious Olympics and the fall of Greece.It was the end of Greece, the beginning of the Roman period, and the beginning of the end of the Olympic games. 10.http//www.richeast.org/htwm/Olympics/surpassings.htmlReinstatement of the Olympic gamesThe short renaissance of the ancient Olympic games was marked by thepolitical stability and economic and cultural revival of the Roman occupation. However, the games were no longer holy festivals they turned into gladiator contests, which were extremely bloody and violent. Later, these games were also acknowledged as international under the wide-ranging coverage of the Roman citizenship and were then appreciated and enjoyed by many regions including Egypt. Royal benefaction contributed to the melioration in the location of Olympia, and it befitted that of a Roman showpiece. Comprehensive repairs and modifications were made to the temple of Zeus many other buildings were also modified according to the new construction trends. Moreover, athle tic facilities and new monuments were also dedicated for the holding of Olympic games.ConclusionThe ancient Olympic games were rich in culture and traditions. The origin of the Olympic games has enthralled and fascinated many students, historians, and archeologists in their quest to divulge the mysteries behind them. Throughout time, the ancient Olympic games have survived wars and natural disasters, they were curtly abolished but brought back to life, and now it is a worldwide-celebrated tradition.Bibliography1. Ancient Olympic Games, Olympic.org. 2012. http//www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games2. Olympic-Legacy. Myths &Legendshttp//www.pe04.com/olympic/olympia/legends_o.php 3. Pausanias, http//www.theoi.com/Text/Pausanias5A.html74. http//www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/index.html5. http//www.richeast.org/htwm/Olympics/olympics.html6. Vaughan, Valerie. The Origin of the Olympics Ancient Calendars and the Race Against