THE OLYMPIC GAMES

In the ancient times, four great game festivals were held on the Greek island:
The Isthmian, The Nemeans, The Pythiams and The Olympic Games. As part
of a religious festival, the Olympic Games were held every four years in the
months of July and August. The four-year interval between the games is an
Olympiad, and this was the system upon which time in ancient Greek History
was calculated. The Olympic Games were so important that wars were
stopped at the time they were held.
The Olympic Games originally began in 776 BC when Ifitos made a treaty with
Lycourgos the King and famous legislature of Sparta and Cleisthenes the king
of Pissa. At first, only one event was held the sprint or run. In total, the Olympic
Games consisted of 10 event: sprinting, the pentathlon, jumping, discus,
ekebolon javelin, wrestling, boxing, the pancratium, chariot racing, and horse
racing. All Greek men who were free citizens and had not committed murder or
heresy had the right to take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not
entitled to take part, except as owners in the horse races, while being strictly
prohibited from watching the games.
The organizing town of Elis is where the athletes presented themselves one
month before the games began. Hellanodikes, who were chosen by citizen
from Elis, carried out the organization and supervision for the upholding of the
rules. Two short days after the beginning of competing, the procession of the
athletes and judges started from Elis to arrive in Olympia where it where they
were received by the crowds who had come to watch the games. The
ceremonies began with official oath that was taken by the athletes at the altar
of Horkios Zeus, in the Bouleuterion, swearing that they would compete with
honor and respect.