The Ancient Olympics In Today's Culture

The Olympics in today’s culture is a very important and well known event. The first Olympic games were held in the year 776 B.C. The Olympics games started in Greece and over time it became more widely spread and competitive and started to become more important to athletes. Although Athletes from all over the world show up to compete at the Olympic games now, it was much more simpler and had a different purpose in the first wave civilizations. The Olympic games were created to show physical qualities and to serve the Gods of Olympia. The Olympic ceremonies had big sacrifices, they would sacrifice up to a 100 Oxens and the sacrifices were held at Zeus and Hera’s temple in Olympia. The games were made to honor Zeus and see which city state
had the greatest warriors. The first ever Olympic event was a 200-yard dash. A young cook that goes by the name of Cerebos of Elis won the event. They hosted all types of events like running, spear throwing, wrestling, long jump, boxing, chariot racing and pankration (Ancient martial art which mixes wrestling and boxing). Back then Only men could compete in the original games. The male citizens of one of many Greek city states could compete if they had no criminal records and swore they had trained at least 10 months prior to competition, if you did not train 10 months before or you have a criminal record you were ineligible to compete in the Ancient Olympic games. You also must be of Greek origin and a free man. Men would train and compete completely naked but would coat their skin with oil and sand to protect themselves from the sun. Before competing, all athletes took an oath and swore to follow the rules. Not only were women not allowed to compete in the games, they also weren’t allowed to even watch. Even though women were not allowed to compete, there was one woman that won an event, the female was a Spartan woman and the way she won is in a chariot race. She did not compete in it or even watch but the rules of the early Olympics were not only does the athlete win in a chariot race, but the owner of that horse does too, and it happened to be a woman. Winners of the events would receive a crown of olive branches to put around their heads but more importantly they would return to their city states regarded as heroes in their cities. In most city states, the “hero” would be given a parade and celebration. The city states that participated are Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Agros, and Megara. Each city state had their own way and strategy of winning, Sparta would lie and cheat and pretty much do anything to win but could never get caught, they only cheer for their own team and are very fierce and proud. Athens are Sparta’s rival but they are more clean and don’t lie and cheat their way to victory, they cooperate with other teammates, do their best to try and beat Sparta, they are clever, creative, and courteous. Corinth would help Agros and Megara defeat Athens. They are always honest and cheer for all winners, they have good sportsmanship. Agros would try to make their presence known and let everyone that they are superior, they would try to make Athens and Sparta lose. They are loyal and clever. Megara would try to make both Athens and Sparta lose but if it came down to the two they would cheer for their city state Sparta. The Olympics still take place today and they happen every 4 years.
We have a winter and summer Olympics. The original Olympics were banned in 396 A.D by BC Roman emperor Theodosius. It was brought back to the world in 1896 by Pierre De Coubertin, the first modern Olympics would take place in Athens. They are many differences and similarities between the modern Olympics and the ancient Olympics. Some differences are the ancient Olympics had only 10 sporting events and today there is around 300. The ancient Olympics only lasted around 5 days and now they last about 17 days. The schedule for the 5 days would look like this; Day 1 was when people made offerings to deities. Day 2 was when the horse and chariot races occurred. Day 3 was a communal feast. Day 4 was combat events (wrestling and boxing). Day 5 was the final day and it consisted of feasting and crowning victors. The winners in the ancient Greece won an olive wreath and now they win medals (Gold, Silver,
Bronze).
In ancient Olympics, only 5 city states participated and today 204 countries participate. Athletes competed nude in the ancient Olympics and now they wear clothing’s to competition. The Greeks also did not record personal statistics like they do now. There was also no Olympic torch relay back then and now it has become a big thing. To add on to that every modern Olympics competition is celebrated in a different city of the world every 4 years but in ancient Greece the Olympics were always held in Olympia. The similarities are that the participants are the best of their country/city-state. The winners both honor their country/city-state and the games are both still held every 4 years. The modern-day Olympics still has some events from the ancient Olympics, the ancient Greek sports were running races, wrestling, boxing, horse racing, chariot races, pentathlon. The present-day sports are now basketball, boxing, gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, tennis, swimming, diving, track and field and many more. Both the modern and ancient Olympic games had opening ceremonies, but the ancient ceremonies were nothing like the ones we have now. The ancient ceremonies were all about praying to Zeus and there would be an addition festival after
that.