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Essay On The Olympic Games

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Essay On The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games are a significant event not only in today's society but also in the lives of the ancient Greeks, with its origins stretching way back to the classical time. The Ancient Olympic Games were primarily a part of a religious festival that honoured Zeus, the father of the Greek gods and goddesses. They were an athletic event that was held every 4 years and began in the early 700 BC. The Ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia, which is in the south-west of Greece, and involved a series of athletic competitions among representatives of the 10 city-states. The Olympics are said to have mythological origins, with many different myths claiming to be the cause of the games. Importance of Event:

In the Classical world, the Olympics
…show more content…
Ancient Greeks loved sport and most cities in Ancient Greece had public gymnasiums where men would gather to train. They believed that a healthy and fit body was very important, so most men and boys played sports every day. It was not only to keep fit but also because they enjoyed it. Exercise was also a good preparation for war and was a crucial part of their education. The Greek armies had to be fit enough to march long distances whilst carrying all their heavy equipment and then be able to fight. The event most significant to the Greeks was the pentathlon, as it reflected the greek value of diversity, as the ideal athlete should be well rounded, with great skill in a number of sports. The image above is ancient evidence depicting the ruins of a gymnasium used in Olympia for the athletes to …show more content…
Opening with horse races was significant to the mythological origins of the games to do with Pelops and his famous chariot race. The equestrian events were then followed by the pentathlon which took place in the afternoon . The pentathlon continued on to the following day with the remaining of the 5 events usually being the wrestling and the running. The third day also involved a procession of all the judges as well as many sacrifices, as that day was meant to coincide with the full

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