Ancient Olympics Essay, Research Paper

Since 1896, the year the Olympics were

resurrected from ancient history, the Olympics have been a symbol of the

camaraderie and harmony possible on a global scale. The gathering of athletic

representatives, the pride of the pack, from participating governments,

even throughout the recent Cold War period, is proof that world unity is

possible; just as it was in Ancient Greece with the polis or city-states.

Olympic Games were held throughout Ancient

Greece, but the most famous are the games that were held in Olympia in

honor of Zeus every four years from August 6th to September 19th. The first

record of these games is of one Coroebus of Elis, a cook, winning a sprint

race in 776 BC. Most historians believe the games to have been going on

for approximately 500 years before this. In the year Coroebus was made

a part of history, there was apparently only one simple event, a race called

the stade. The track was said to be one stade long or roughly 210 yards.

In subsequent games, additional events

were to be added, most likely to increase the challenge to these amazing

athletes. In 724 BC, the diaulos, a two stade race, was added, followed

by a long distance race, about 2 1/4 miles and called the dolichos, at

the next games four years later. Wrestling and the famous Pentathlon were

introduced in 708 BC.

The Pentathlon consisted of five events;

the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, foot race, and wrestling. The

Pentathlons, especially the successful ones, were often treated and even

worshipped like gods. Because of their exquisite physiques, they were used

as the models for statues of the Greek Gods. The superior athletic ability

of these athletes affects the games even today. The twisting and throwing

method of the discus throw, which originated in