The Origins and History of the Olympic Games
The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE in the city of Olympia, where all of the ancient Olympics were held. At the first Olympics there was only one competition: a foot race. Foot races were the only events for the first 17 Olympics. During the 18th Olympic Games two new sports were added: the pentathlon and wrestling.
The exact origins of the Olympics are unknown. There are several different stories about why the games were held. Some traditions say that it was begun by Zeus, or by his guardians from when he was an infant. Another story claims that the Greek hero Pelops began the games after he defeated King Oenomaus in a chariot race to win the hand of his daughter in marriage.
What is known is that athletic events were an important part of the religious and social life of the ancient Greeks, and there were other games held besides the Olympics. However, the Olympics became the largest and grandest of ancient Greek sporting events.
The Early Olympics
The Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece from the first Games in 776 BCE all the way until the year 394 CE. In this year, the emperor Theodosius I banned the Games. Early Christians did not support the Games, seeing them as tributes to paganism.
The early Olympics were held every four years. Unlike today, the Olympic Games were always held in the same place: Olympia. This city resided in the territory of Elis.
Olympia was chosen for the site for several reasons. For one thing, it was the home of many major ancient temples. In fact, temples still exist at this site today dating as far back as 660 BCE, almost as old as the Olympics themselves!
The site was also very centrally located. Athletes from all over the Greek world to play in the Olympic Games. Olmympia provided the best access for those from the Greek mainland as well as colonies across the Mediterranean and as far away as Spain.
Unlike today, judges all came from the territory of Elis, since they hosted the Games. Despite the fact that all of the judges were Eleans, they were still allowed to compete in the Games. The Eleans were considered to be so fair and honest that the idea of cheating by them could barely be conceived
Truces were declared between warring city-states during the Olympics. No matter how violent the battles raging between the city-states, they would all come together to compete peacefully at the Olympic Games. If the truce were broken, the Eleans had the authority to fine entire city-states and bar their athletes from competing.
Women in the Ancient Olympics
For the most part, women were unable to participate in the Olympic Games, or even be spectators. This was due to the fact that athletics was seen as a masculine pastime, as well as the fact that athletes appeared in the nude and it was considered unseemly for women to do this as well or even to watch it.
However, the prohibitions against women did not exist for equestrian events. Women were allowed in horse riding and chariot racing competitions. In fact, a woman won the first chariot racing event ever held at the Olympics.
The End of the Ancient Olympic Games
The Olympic Games hit their high point in ancient Greece during the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. This was also the time of the Golden Age of Athens, when ancient Greece was at its cultural and military height.
The Olympic Games continued on after the conquest of Greece by Philip of Macedon and under the control of Alexander the Great, but they would never be the same. By the time of Greece’s control under the Roman Empire, the Olympic Games were no longer what they once were.
They were, however, a continuation of the tradition that had been going on since 776 BCE. By the 4th century CE, they had been going on for over a thousand years.
By this time, the Roman Empire had become officially Christian. The Christianization of Rome began in the early parts of the 4th century, when Constantine decriminalized the religion and became a Christian himself. His successors would make Christianity the official religion throughout the Empire.
The Olympic Games, a hallmark of Greece’s long pagan tradition, were finally ended by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 394 CE.
The Birth of the Modern Olympic Games
The decree of Theodosius I ending the Olympics could very well have been the end of its story. After all, a thousand years is a long time for a single competition to continue. It was not, however, the end of the Olympics.
In 1887 Pierre de Fredi, Baron de Coubertin (1863-1937), conceived of the idea of reviving the Olympic Games. He spent seven years scouring the world for support for his revival of this ancient competition.
In 1894 his work bore fruit. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded at an international congress and plans were put into motion for the first of the new Olympic Games.
The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, 120 miles east of Olympia where the ancient games had been held in 1896. Compared to today’s standards the turnout was quite small, with only 311 athletes representing 13 nations.
With the rebirth of the Olympics, it has been held consecutively every four years since, excluding 3 years: 1916, 1940 and 1944, when the world was engulfed in World Wars I and II.
Breaking from the ancient tradition of always holding the Olympics in the same place, it was decided that the Games would be held in a different city every four years. The original games were held in Athens, while the next games were held in Paris, France. This would allow all of the countries of the world a chance to host the Olympic Games. The Development of the Modern Olympics
The original Olympics held in Olympia, were composed solely of what we now consider the summer games. Racing, chariot racing, wrestling, discus throw, etc.
The modern revival originally followed this same template, engaging in the same types of sports which were represented in their ancient predecessors. This changed in 1924 when the Winter Olympics were added. The Summer Olympics would be held during the summer months, and the Winter Games held in the winter, so that all of the various sports of the world could be represented.
In 1986 a further change was voted upon involving the Olympics. Starting in 1994 with the Winter Olympics, the Winter and Summer Games would be separated by two years. There would be four years between Winter Olympics and four years between Summer Olympics, but only two between the Winter and Summer Olympics.
From its meager beginnings of only 13 countries, the Olympics now boast well over 150 countries participating. Olympic Committees exist in countries across the world, vying for their own chance to host the Olympics.
In the late 1990’s, this fierce competition led to the largest scandal ever to hit the Olympics. In 1998 allegations arose that the IOC had accepted bribes in order to make Salt Lake City, Utah, the home of the 2002 Olympic Games. The IOC responded quickly, expelling six of its members and promising wide-ranging reforms.
The Olympic Games are a vital part of modern. It is the dream of young people in countries around the world to some day be in the Olympic Games. Although they have changed quite a bit from their ancient predecessors, they keep alive the spirit of international competition despite any other feelings that one might have towards another nation. It is a symbol of international unity and friendly competition.
