THE OLYMPIC GAMES

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THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Olympic Games 776 B.C.E. - 394 C.E
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• 776 B.C.E.-- King Iphitos of Elis, acting on the
  instructions of the Delphic oracle, proclaimed
  the first Olympic Games. The festival, dedicated
  to Zeus, is offered to appease the gods and
  combat a plague that had been devastating Greece.
  The one and only event, a running race, was won
  by an Elian cook named Coroibos.
• 570 B.C.E.--The city of Elias gained control over
  the Olympian sanctuary against the competing
  claims of the nearby Pisatans. The events of the
  game were expanded.
• 476 B.C.E.--Olympic Games celebrated Greek
  Freedom after Persian defeats. This consolidated
  the prestige of the festival to Zeus. A major
  building program started including the erection
  of the massive new Temple of Zeus, completed in
  459 B.C. E.
• 420 B.C.E.--Phidias finishes a massive statue of
  Zeus.
• 40 foot high--one of the seven wonders of the
  ancient world
• Volunteer guides showing the temple were push
  verbose
• One pilgrim left a prayer Zeus, protect me from
  your guides at Olympia
• Material from Tony Perrottets The Naked
  Olympics, 2004

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364 B.C.E.--Olympia embroiled in Greek
in-fighting Elians and Arcadians fight a pitched
battle in the sanctuary in the middle of the
Olympic Games. c. 100 C.E.--Second Golden Age of
Olympic Games. Emperor Hadrian lavished Olympia
with gifts and buildings. C 150 C.E. water
system 394 C.E.--The Emperor Theodosius I banned
all pagan festivals. The Olympics were
officially disbanded--archaelogists suggest that
they were kept going in some form, perhaps in
Christian guise. Phidias great statue of Zeus
was packed up and transported to Constantinople
for display in the Emperors palace. 475 C.E.--A
palace fire in Constantinople destroyed the
statue of Zeus. 522 C.E.--The first of several
devastating earthquakes hit Olympia. In future
centuries, the nearby rivers regularly flooded,
burying Olympia under fifteen to twenty feet of
yellow silt.
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OFF TO THE GAMES
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ENTRANCE MARCH
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OLYMPIC PROGRAM
DAY ONE A.M. Opening Ceremonies Swearing in of
athletes, trainers, and Olympic judges before a
statue of Zeus wielding a thunderbolt. Contests
for heralds and trumpeters in Echo Colonnade.
Athletes make their private sacrifices to the
gods at one of the sites altars and consult
oracles. P.M. Free time for art lovers to explore
Sacred Grove of Zeus, one of Greeces most
spectacular collections of statuary and
paintings. Literary events poets recite their
works, philosophers expound, historians present
new work. Less edifying pursuits available at
carnival-style festival fringe. DAY TWO A.M.
Equestrian Events Chariot and horse races. The
popular four horse chariot race opens the
celebration followed by bareback races. P.M.
pentathlon in the Stadium--a grueling event for
all-rounders that combined discus, javelin,
long-jump, running, and wrestling. LATE
Celebrations victory parades, choral hymns,
banquets for champions.
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DAY THREE A.M. The Games central religious
ritual, coinciding with the full moon an
official procession to the Great Altar of Zeus,
followed by the sacrifice of one hundred
oxen. P.M. Boys events (wrestling, running,
boxing) LATE Public banquet of sacrificed
meat DAY FOUR A.M. Running races 200, 400 and
3600 meters P.M. Contact sports wrestling,
boxing and pankration (mixture of wrestling
kickboxing to force opponent to concede--anything
went) LATE Race in armor DAY FIVE Closing
ceremonies Wreaths are presented victory
processions champions showed with leaves.
Prestigious dinner for champions and officials,
followed by general celebrations.
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STARTING BLOCKS
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SPRINTERS
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DISTANCE RUNNERS
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