The Olympics were an international event, however, all participants were required to speak Greek and so they were limited to the various city states of Greece. While no one knows the exact origins of the Olympic Games, there are several myths that tell of the conception of the games, that they were held in honor of Pelops, or that after he won a race at Olympia, Heracles decreed that the race should be held every four years. The games were a lot more than just a sporting event, they also included a festival and a religious ceremony that lasted five days. Other similar festivals held were the Nemean Games at Nemea, The Isthmian Games at Corinth and the Pythian Games at Delphi (these festivals were never held in the same year and rotated so each one would be held every four years).
The Olympic Truce
Initiated by Iphitos af Elis, Kleostenes of Pisa and Lykourgos of Sparta, the ekecheiria or truce was the most important rule of the Olympics. Three runners were sent from Elis to participating cities throughout Greece to mark the beginning of the truce which lasted one month (although later it was increased to three months). During the truce athletes and visitors could pass through enemy territory without fear of being attacked, all armies were forbidden from entering Olympia, wars were suspended and legal disputes and the use of the death penalty were suspended.
Festival of the Olympic Games
Every year they were held, the Olympics followed the same schedule. The first day was reserved for the opening ceremonies (where the athletes and officials paraded along the Sacred Way and swore an oath that they had trained for the past ten months and that they would obey the rules of the games) as well as a competition for trumpeters and heralds (who won the right to announce the games), the Oath to Zeus and the sacrifice to Pelops. This was also when the heats and matchups were determined for the coming days of competition. Day two was used for the boys' events, including races, boxing and the pankration (a full-contact fight). On the third day the pentathalon (which included a stade race, javelin throw, jump, discus throw and wrestling) and the equestrian events were held, these included both chariot and horseback races. At the end of the third day were ceremonies honoring both Zeus and Pelops. At the beginning of the fourth day, a hecatombe (100 oxen) were sacrificed to Zeus and was followed by men's wrestling, boxing, pankration and the running events. The final day of the games was a celebration of the winners. Everyone gathered at the Temple of Zeus where the winners were awarded an olive branch before there was a great banquet to celebrate the close of the games.
Winners of the Olympics
To win at the ancient Olympics was considered a great honor and besides being given an olive branch, the winners became the celebrities of ancient Greece. In their hometowns, the winners were given large sums of money and prizes which could include large vats of olive oil, free meals for life, exemption from taxes as well as being allowed to fight alongside the king. Also the athlete's family erected a statue of the athlete in Olympia and hired a poet to write an epinician or victory ode.
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