Ancient Olympics

1
Ancient Olympics

• The first Olympic Games that historians can
  document took place in 776 BC in Greece.

2
Participants

• Males were the only participants in the early
  games. Women were not even allowed to watch
  because the men competed in the nude.
  
• Athletes usually came from wealthy families
  because they had to pay their own expenses and
  were required to spend ten months in rigorous
  training.

3
Events

• The earliest recorded Olympics lasted only one
  day and contained only one race, the stade, a
  sprint one length of the track.
  
• In later years the Olympics added additional
  events including the diaulos, the dolichos, the
  hoplite, pancratium, throwing games and the
  pentathlon.

4
Winning

• Each winner was crowned with a wreath of wild
  olive branches, the symbol of victory, and then
  returned home to a heros welcome.
  
• Townspeople would knock down a section of the
  citys walls so the hero could drive his chariot
  through a parade of fans bearing food, gifts
  money.

5
Roman Invasion

• After the Roman Empire conquered Greece, the
  Olympic Games changed. Religious ceremony and
  admiration for speed, strength, skill and
  sportsmanship were replaced with values more
  important to the Romans.
• By 393 AD, the Empire embraced Christianity and
  viewed the Olympic Games as a disgusting display
  of bad sportsmanship and dishonor.

6
The End of the Ancient Olympic Games

• Roman Emperor Theodosius I ordered the
  destruction of Olympic Stadium.
  
• Earthquakes and a flood completed the destruction
  of the stadium, and the noble spirit of the early
  Olympic Games faded to a memory.