The ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia, in the western Peloponnese, from 776 BC until 393 AD — a continuous tradition lasting over a millennium. At their heart, they were a religious festival in honour of Zeus, and every four years, a sacred truce called the ekecheiria suspended all conflicts across Greece so athletes and spectators could travel safely to compete.
The original events
The earliest Games featured only a single event: a 192-metre foot race called the stade (the origin of the word "stadium"). Over centuries, events were added: wrestling, discus, javelin, long jump, chariot racing and the pankration — a brutal form of full-contact combat that had almost no rules. Boxing was included and was rather more violent than the modern version.
Who could compete
Only free Greek men. Women were not allowed to compete or, in most cases, even to watch. Married women found at the Games faced the death penalty. The one exception: the priestess of Demeter, who had an honorary seat.
The prizes
Winners received an olive wreath — nothing more. No prize money. But the glory was enormous. A victorious athlete returned to his city as a hero, might have his statue erected, could receive free meals for life, and was celebrated in victory odes by poets like Pindar. Fame was the currency.
The end
The Roman Emperor Theodosius I abolished the Games in 393 AD as part of a campaign against pagan festivals. They were revived in Athens in 1896, partly inspired by a French aristocrat named Pierre de Coubertin who believed competitive sport could reduce conflict between nations.
