Origins of the Olympic Games For 1,000 years from 776BC to 395AD, citizens from around the Greek Empire flocked to Olympia every four years to take part in Games honouring the god Zeus. While the ultimate prize was the olive wreath of victory, the Olympic values – noble competition and the effort to combine body, will and mind in a balanced whole – gave special meaning to the Games RUNNING Stadion: Only event of first 13 Olympiads. One length of stadium – 192m. Olympiad named after winner Diaulos: Two lengths of stadium Dolichos: Long-distance race – anything from 7-24 lengths Hoplitodromia: Endurance race wearing shield, helmet, and greaves – lower leg armour PENTATHLON Test for all-round athlete comprising five events; discus, javelin, long jump, running and wrestling DISCUS THROW Technique very similar to today Discus: Made originally of stone, later of iron, lead or bronze Diameter: 17-32cm Weight: 1.3-6.6kg Gymnasium Running, discus, javelin Prytaneion Hosted banquet for victors Palaistra Pancration, boxing, wrestling, long jump Temple of Hera Swimming pool For relaxation only Nike (Victory) of Paionios OLYMPIA About 100BC Echo Colonnade Trumpeters sounded start of events Leonidaion Hotel for visiting officials Oxeis himantes: Gloves of hard leather straps and inner layer of wool used from 4th century BC JAVELIN THROW Olympia Leather thong looped around javelin enabled greater force of throw and rotation for steadier, longer flight LONG JUMP Hand-held weights – halteres – gave jumper momentum on take-off and balance on landing Different shapes, made of lead, iron or stone. Weight: c2.5kg Length: 12-23cm Stadium Track: 192m Capacity: 40-45,000 Hippodrome Equestrian events Track: 600m Temple of Zeus Housed gold and ivory statue of Zeus, one of Seven Wonders of Ancient World Bouleuterion Olympic council meetings EQUESTRIAN Separate races for fully grown horses, mares, and foals Chariot races Synoris – two-horse team Tethrippon – four-horse team. Both divided into two contests; one for horses of any age, the other for colts. Races from 4-13km COMBAT Wrestling: Upright – to win, contestant had to throw opponent three times to ground Ground – match continued until one competitor raised hand to acknowledge defeat Pancration: Combined wrestling and boxing. All blows, kicking, strangling allowed, no biting or gouging of eyes Boxing: Use of fists only. Win by fall or submission. Early boxers wrapped soft ox-hide straps – himantes – around hands to strengthen wrists and steady fingers Source: Foundation of the Hellenic World