History and Origin of the Ancient Olympic Games Essay

The quaint exceeding games represent a part of Ancient Grecian memorial that the arna continues to celebrate directly. Every tetrad years earth nations gather at a specific tar fare to compete in the Olympic games. This coming together of world nations symbolizes a time of peace and accordance among the world. With every victory came extol, glory and pride for the winning athlete and their country. The history and origin of the Olympic games includes apparitional celebrations, mythical stories as well all embracing Greeces love and respect of pure athleticism. This paper will discuss the history and origin of the ancient Olympic games. It will elaborate upon the fact that the history and origin of the Olympic games include spiritual celebrations, mythical stories as well as embrace Greeces love and respect of pure athleticism.Establish ment of Games in capital of WashingtonThe Olympic games pertain to a severalize event on the international level, which features winte r, and summer sports and invites thousands of athletes for the purpose of participation in various competitions. The Olympic games are ack straightledged as the leading competition of sports globally, in which there are over 200 nations as participants1. The Ancient Olympic games were established in Olympia in 776 BC, creating an institution that would continue throughout the world for thousands of years.Initially, from the eighth century BC to the 4th century AD, the ancient Olympic games got their origin in Olympia, Greece. some(prenominal) 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 being 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 aspopularity. They include the Nemean Games at Nemea the Pythia n games, held at Delphi and the Isthmian Games, which were held near Corinth. Later, there were various similar festivals, which took place in around cl cities, including Odessus, Alexandria, Rome, Antioch, and Naples.There have been various legends and myths connected with the background and origin of the ancient Olympic games. They are a mirror image of the Greek civilizations mythic-religious nature. For instance, in the ancient Greece, it was a tradition and religious binding 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 nether 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 z one through bolt of thunder, which he flung on Mount Olympus from his throne.It is said that to mark that betoken spot, a stunning altar of Zeus was created at Olympia, which is situated in the North from his specta cular temple. Then, there is other 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 done with it, he celebrated the achievement by making a clearing 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 way for six 100 times, he placed one foot in front of the other2.Establishment of the Olympic CalendarThe Greeks had a different schedule for holding the Olympic games. They observed that 99 lunar months made eight solar years. Therefore, they established a new 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 louver years contained twelve months and the rest three years comprised of 13 months. The extra three months were inserted in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th years.It was believed by the Greek historians that the Greeks kept the 8-year calendar when the Olympic games were invented in the 776 BC. Later, the two 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 break 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 Pisa in 824 BC. A bronze discus had the terms of this truce carved upon it, and it was kept in Alti s, in the tabernacle of Hera at Olympia. The Truce was mainly meant to deliver peace and harmony all across Greece. It covered the hobby clauses Armies and weapons were not permitted to acquaint Elis The hostile areas were safe for travelling of the attendees whose city-state was at war There was no consent for the death penalties.Before the beginning of the Olympic festivals, the intelligence service of the truce was spread through the three news bearers, decorated with garland of olive, and staff carriers, who went to every city of Greece. It was the duty of the herald to confirm the festivals date in order to invite the residents to move and attend as well as to inebriate 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 substantial role in the Olympics. Before the truce, the mainland Greece region was disturbed by the unrest and civil wars. However, after the refuge was guaranteed to the wad 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 pick out 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 inform the name of the winner, and, a Greek Judge, Hellanodikis, would put a palm 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 games completed, an official award ceremony would be conducted, at the prominent foyer at Zeus temple. The Olymp ic winners name, with his father and homelands name would be announced loudly. The Hellanodikis would then, place the sanctified wreaths of olive tree, or kotinos, on the head of the winner5.In the ancient Olympic games, the participants were all the free virile citizens of Greece, irrespective of their social status. Diagoras, a member of a royal family from Rhodes Polymnistor, a shepherd Orsippos, Alexander I, news 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 case-by-case were permitted to attend and watch the competition.The goddess of fertility, priestess of Demeter, was permitted an honored place next to the altar of Stadium. Athletic Events Divisions divided between men and boys would divide ath letic events. According to the writings of Pausanias, the first Olympic event was the foot race. The victor was Coroebus.6 This sign foot race was known as the stadion. The athletes would sprint for one stade or the length of the stadium. 7 14 festivals later 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 foot race between two and four stades wearing full military armor.This armor weighed about fifty cardinal pounds. The Pentathlon would be added as well. The Pentathlon include five different events. The events included discus, javelin, jumping, running and wrestling. This event is still included in todays Olympic games. Chariot racing would be one of the equestrian events the ancient Greeks included in the games. There were two and four horse chariot races. According to Plato, the folk with the battered ears (P lato) 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 Eventual 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 rich donors, who started doing the same. When the Classical period was near its end, the attitude towards the Games started to diminish, which alike reflected the eventual downfall 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 triumph and success was credited to the help of the deities, now it was ruled and commanded by the athletes in the glory of their pers onal 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 development 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 second century BC, there begun the romish intervention in Hellenic affairs, and they end up directly distinguished rules on Macedonia and Greece and ending the independence of Greece in 146 BC. Thus, it was the end of the 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/olympics.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 glowering 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 another(prenominal) regions including Egypt. Royal benefaction contributed to the improvement in the pickle 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 change according to the new construction trends. Moreover, athletic facilities and new monuments were also dedicated for the holding of Olympic games. endpointThe ancien t 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 uncover the mysteries behind them. Throughout time, the ancient Olympic games have survived wars and natural disasters, they were shortly 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