Olympic Games of Greece

[admin]

The Greeks created athletica (Gk. - Athlete in English) contests and held these in honor of their twelve gods.

There were many games in athletics in Greece, including the Isthmos games that occurred every two years at the Isthmos of Corinth.

Also, the Pythian games took place every four years near Delphi.


However, the most famous of the games were those from Olympia, a town in southwestern Greece. These Olympic games took place every four years.

The ancient Olympics seem to have begun in the early 700 BC, in honor of Zeus. Women were not allowed to watch the games or participate in them. Pottery dating from around 550 BC shows men taking part in the games naked or wearing only a thong.

Greece was able to celebrate the Olympic games again in 2004, with a very organized, the most beautiful and one of the most successful games after a long absence of them from Greece.

[Macedonian]

Great contribution to the world we gave. I am concerned at the obession with money the games have taken in recent decades.

[pankration]

Originally Posted by Macedonian

Great contribution to the world we gave. I am concerned at the obession with money the games have taken in recent decades.

Note that many athletes were professionals even in ancient Greece, particularly in the pankration, boxing and wrestling. The chariot races were also the province of wealthy nobles and royalty. The Olympics have never been clean of controversy; however the fact that countries observed peace during that time far transcends any other type of scandals.