Importance Of Olympic Games

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES The Ancient Olympic Games, which occurred between 766BC and AD 395, caused residents from each corner of the classical world to travel to Olympia in western Greece. They did so in order to observe famous athletes competing (Swadding, 2002: 8). The goal of this essay is to discuss the importance of the Olympic Games in ancient Greek society, with specific emphasis on history, art, literature and the law. Furthermore, attention will be given to the way in which the ancient Games differ from the modern Olympic Games, by discussing the inclusion of women. Lastly, patriotism throughout the ancient-and modern Games will be discussed, in order to understand the similarities. Ultimately, more knowledge …show more content…

This meant that the crops were already gathered, and men eagerly celebrated their hard work by means of the Olympic Games (Adams, W. & Gerlasch, L.R . 2002: 22)

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN ANCIENT GREEK SOCIETY
According to Miller, athletics, specifically the Olympic Games, played a fundamental role in ancient Greek society in many different aspects. Not only did it affect history, art, literature and the law, Miller further asserts the effect of the Olympic Games is still applicable in modern society (2004:226)
HISTORY
As a result of the Olympic victor’s list, which included the names of all the winners in various events of the Games, the chronological framework of the Olympic register was created. Each city-state in Greece kept its own records, enabling scholars to write history by placing events in the correct sequences. Miller states that, although the register was important for reckoning time within the Greek world, it seems insignificant compared to the great importance that it held for relating Greek events to those of other cultures. Facts such as the death of Socrates and the years between that of Jesus Christ are primarily known because of the register of ancient Olympic victors (2004: …show more content…

It became custom to set up victory statues at the Olympia, which promoted the development of artistic portrayal, specifically the portrayal of the human body. It is apparent that these documented statues acted as motive for sculptors to carve male bodies in the nude. As a result of the Olympic Games, in which men had to compete naked, Greek artists developed the ability to portray the human body in the most realistic way possible. Most of the artists’ work was in bronze and is still preserved to us in the marble copies found in the Roman period (Miller,

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