Welcome to the Ancient Olympics!! This site will give all information about the Ancient Olympics held in Greece. For example, what types of Olympic games were held, when they started, how they began, and everything else you need to know.
There were ALL kinds of games held at the Olympics. For example, boxing, pentathalon, equestrian events, and many more. In boxing, the boxers fought until one was knocked out, or admitted that he was beaten. The pentathalon involved a combinaton of five seperate events. These five events included, Discus, Javelin, Running, Wrestling and long Jump. In the equestrian events, there were both riding and racing events. The races were held over 12 laps of the stadium, and included both 2 horse and 4 horse races. In the riding events, held over 4.5 miles, the jockeys would ride bareback. Many of the Ancient Olympic games are still held in todays present day Olympics. Our olympic games today are held once every four years in both summer and winter. the track and field events are as popular today as they were back in ancient games.
The Olympics began in 776 B.C. and ended 393 A.D. We still hold Olympic games every four years. The present-day Olympics which began in 1894, are still being held today.
There are two sides on how the Olympics began, one where Pelops, who was a suitor seeking Hippodamia's hand in marriage. However, King Oeomaus, Hippodamia's father, challenged anyone who wished to marry his daughter. The sneaky Pelops managed to bribe the King's servant and got away with taking Hippodamia. As they were driving away, King Oeomaus' chariot axle gave way, and he fell to his death. They then had a wedding celebration followed by athletic contests, and they say that this is what became the Olympics.
The other story is how Hercules, the son of Zeus was forced by Hela to kill his children. He had to serve King zeus who commanded him to complete 12 labors. They say that Hercules "supposedly" organized the Olympics to celebrate that he completed the fifth LABOR.