Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
A short essay on the history of the Olympics
A short essay on the history of the Olympics
Ancient olympics research paper
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: A short essay on the history of the Olympics
The biggest competition of every Ancient Greeks life, the Olympics. This was a one-day event which they competed in the “Pentathlon, this included foot races, the long jump, diskos and javelin throwing which later included wrestling” (Hemingway). If you win this, you will have fame and fortune like no other. This was the first Olympics, but it wasn’t the last. Ancient Greek athletics influence modern Olympics in competition, inspiration, and technique. There are many competitions our world has; the main one is the Olympics. “Fame and fortune awaited many ancient Olympic champions when they returned home” (Christopher). Today winners get fame and fortune just like in the ancient Olympics. “Public honors were bestowed on them, statues were dedicated …show more content…
The marathon was not an event of the ancient Olympic Games. “The marathon is a modern event that was first introduced in the Modern Olympic Games of 1896 in Athens” (“Track and Field History and the Origins of the Sport”). Most people think that the marathon has always been in the Olympics, but it hasn’t. “The race commemorates the run of Pheidippides, an ancient “day runner” who carried the news of the Persian landing at Marathon of 490 BC to Sparta (a distance of 149 miles) in order to enlist help for the battle” (“Track and Field History and the Origins of the Sport”). The marathon was actually added because of Pheidippides, not for fun. The ancient Olympics inspired the modern Olympics in many …show more content…
“Most are not aware that there was no torch relay in the ancient Olympic Games” (“The Olympics, What the Games Have Taught Us”). Most people think that the torch relay has always been in the Olympics, but it hasn’t. “It is a tradition that originated with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime. The torch relay was supposed to show Germany’s link to the “greatness” of the ancient Greek people” (“The Olympics, What the Games Have Taught Us”). It is actually a pretty recent thing considering the length of how long the Olympics have been going on. The Ancient Greeks used many techniques to
Since 776 BCE, the Olympics have been a way for people of different cultures to come together and compete in friendly competition. In 1892 the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, although it had been over a thousand years since the last game it still had brought together an assortment of different religions and ethnic groups together. Many factors shaping the Olympic Games reflect the changes that have taken place in our world since the last game in 393 CE in Greece such changes include woman’s suffrage, global economy, world wars, and proving competency.
Athletics were an expression of the philosophical, religious and civic values that were at the very heart of Greek culture. In the world of the ancient Greeks, well-educated individuals were expected to be balanced mentally, spiritually, and physically (http://www.mediaconcero.com/olympic/olympia/ideal_o.php, September 27, 2004). It was felt that athletics aided in the creation of such an individual. Athletic events during this period were not simply displays of physical prowess, but an integration of the facets of Greek culture.
In Ancient Greece they formed the Greek Olympics in the year 776 B.C in which participants participate to honor the gods and demonstrate their physical abilities. What was amazing was that those who participated were only participating in honor and not prizes. Something that they would win was the olive wreath which was basically winning the honor and recognition of the people and the gods. Comparing to the ancient time and now is that there are now commercialized, endorsements, and sponsorships for athletes to represent companies in the Olympics. However, the Olympics still hold true to the idea that it is still a place for participants compete with the best in the world for the honor (gold,silver, and bronze medal). Also, if we look at the sculpture of the Diskobolos made by Myron of Eleutherae it represented the general athlete in motion and would symbolize the ancient times athlete. But something that is different about now and the Greek ...
Historians. In 300 BC all time was dated by Olympiads, a time span of four years
Modern Day Olympics are a huge tradition that sweeps the screens of televisions across the world. Competitors take the arena with uniforms that dawn their countries colors and designs that are meant to resemble their designated flag. For months the news is centered around the games; the preparation, the athletes, and of course the competition. Countries aren 't obsessed, they are inspired and full of pride seeing athletes from their country compete and show their incredible skill. This tradition dates back to ancient Greece where the games began. Tony Perrottet writes about the traditions of the ancient game in his book The Naked Olympics.
The Ancient Greek Olympics were not only sporting events, it was a celebration to honor the great and powerful Zeus. The Ancient Olympics were held every four years at the famous Olympia, a district of Elis, here all free Greek men were allowed to compete. The first record of the Olympic Games was held in 776 B.C. The main sports were the Pentathlon, the Equestrian Events, Pankration, and Boxing.
The Ancient Olympics were huge in introducing sports and events that we now play. The sports that were played in the Ancient Olympics consisted of boxing, chariot racing, riding, pentathlon, discus, javelin, jump, running, and wrestling. All those sport would have never been played without the Greeks introducing them. These sports have become very popular and a lot of people play them. For example wrestling can be played at very young ages and all the way through high school. Another example is running, jumping, javelin, and discus which are all played in high school and some even in elementary.
The first day was devoted to both religious sacrifices, where the sacrificed 100 oxen, and a trumpet competition. The second day consisted of various foot races, the rules were practically the same as modern-day racing, with the first to finish the required number of laps being the winner. The first race was called the stadion, the second and third were 2-4 stade races, and the fourth race had the runner’s run in full body armor (Ancient Greece - Olympic Games.). This was known as the Hoplite race, or the Hoplitodromos which was the last race to be added into the Olympics, being added in the 65th Olympic Games, in 520 B.C. Unlike the other races they ran in the nude wearing only a helmet, shield, and greaves his would be continued until the end of the Olympics games. (Greek Hoplitodromos (Race) - Health and Fitness
“Two thousand years after the victory of the Athenians over the Persians, writers continued to call upon the name of Marathon to symbolize humanity’s struggle for freedom. The nineteenth-century English poet Lord Byron, who fought for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire, penned the following verse:”
...in our readings. Understanding the importance of the athlete to the Greeks will further our understanding of why so much of their art is focused on athletes and athletic events. It is important to understand that everyday Greek culture is depicted by Greek art.
The importance of athleticism and sports in ancient Greece has continued today and greatly influenced Western
In 776 B.C. the only stadium built was Olympus and only one race was held there, the stade race, which was the pre-eminent test of speed, covering the Olympia track from one end to the other basically a 200m foot race. In the 5th century B.C., the Games were extended again to cover five days. The ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, and equestrian events.
Most at times do not really realize how important history and its events greatly influence the way we live and what we do today! Every four years we celebrate the beginning of something that was brought up long ago, the Olympics! This great event in which, now the whole world participates in started way back in the year 776 BC. It started from people playing for the God Zeus to people playing for their country and a medal, the Olympic Games sure did evolve as the time and beliefs changed.
Ancient Olympics The ancient Olympics had some differences from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Women where not allowed to even watch the games on penalty of death let alone play in them.. Also, the games were always held at Olympia in Greece instead of being moved around to different sites every time. But also they had some similarities to our modern Olympics, winning athletes were heroes who put their home towns on the map, and became financially sound for life. The conflict between the Olympic's ideals of sportsmanship and unity and the commercialism and political acts which accompany the Games where also present in ancient times. "Sotades at the ninety-ninth Festival was victorious in the long race and proclaimed a Cretan, as in fact he was. But at the next Festival he made himself an Ephesian, being bribed to do so by the Ephesian people. For this act he was banished by the Cretans."
Running may be one of the oldest and most developed sports out there. According to legend, the first marathon was run unintentionally in 490 B.C. by a Greek Soldier(James). The soldier ran twenty-five miles to Athens to announce battleground victory over the persians then dropped dead(James). In 1896 the marathon was included in the Olympic games, in Greece, for the first time(James). It was there that the first gold was won by a Greek runner with a time of two hours fifty-eight minutes and fifty seconds(James). The current world record for the fastest finish is two hours three minutes and fifty-nine seconds(James). Marathoning has turned into a world wide activity and every person who participates must endure intense training.