Ancient Greek Olympic Games

1. The Ancient Greeks took competitive sport very seriously.

2. They believed it strengthened mind and body and provided fit young men for war.

3. Ancient Greek boys were encouraged to participate in sports from a young age, but girls took no part in sporting activity.

4. Many ancient Greek religious festivals were held each year, a large number of which included sporting contests.

5. One of the most important sporting contest was the Olympic Games, usually held in August or September.

6. The Olympic Games were founded in 776 BC, in honour of Zeus, and held every four years at Olympus until AD 393.

7. The competition lasted for five days and all wars had to stop to allow people to travel safely to and from Olympia.

8. Athletes had to arrive at the Olympic Games one month early to train.

9. The Olympic Games games started with the lighting of a special flame using fire brought from Olympia.

10. Before the Olympic Games began competitors had to swear an oath to Zeus to whom sacrifices were made throughout the Games.

11. Olympic athletes could participate in many events such as, running, pentathlon,, boxing, wrestling, pankration and chariot racing.

12. Running was the oldest event, there were three main races, one length of the track, two lengths and twenty or twenty-four lengths.

13. The pentathlon was an event to find the best athlete who did well in five sports, running, wrestling, javelin, jumping and discus.

14. In Olympic wrestling matches the athletes were covered in oil so it was hard to get a grip on each other, three falls won the fight.

15. Pankration was a mixture of wrestling and boxing with few rules, the athletes could kick and hit each other, but could not bite.

16. Chariot racing was very dangerous as up to forty chariots could take part in one race.

17. The Olympic stadium was an oblong area, enclosed by hills, where the running track was housed.

18. The Olympic stadium was used for foot races and races in armour and up to twenty athletes could race at once.

19. Up to forty thousand people could watch the races from the area around the Olympic stadium.

20. The chariot races took place at the Hippodrome, the chariots were small wooden vehicles with two wheels and an open back.

21. After the chariot racing the horse races were held, jockeys rode bareback and the horses were owned by wealthy people.