1. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
The Ancient Olympics and their Relevance to the Modern Games

2. Myths about the Ancient Olympic Games
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Myths about the Ancient Olympic Games
Philosophies held by modern Games’ founders, initially dominated the Olympic discourse
They did not necessarily reflect the recorded history of the Ancient Games.
As the Games responded to changes in the twentieth century some of the myths have been challenged and replaced.
However, the change has been a slow and acrimonious process.

3. Ancient Olympic Games: A Short History
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Ancient Olympic Games: A Short History
The Olympic Games were held as early as 776 BC.
They were celebrated once every four years, during the second or third full moon after the summer solstice.
They continued to be celebrated until AD 393, when the Roman Emperor, abolished them because of their links to Zeus.

4. Ancient Olympic Games: Short History (cont’d.)
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Ancient Olympic Games: Short History (cont’d.)
Table 2.1. The Ancient Olympic programme (Adapted from Swaddling (1999: 53)

5. Ancient Olympic Games: Short History (cont’d.)
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Ancient Olympic Games: Short History (cont’d.)
Table 2.2. The Panhellenic Games

6. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
The Events
Ancient Olympics drew crowds of spectators, estimated to be up to 40,000.
The facilities were primitive.
The site at Olympia only saw competitions once every four years for the Olympic Games and similarly for the Games of Hera.
Games of Hera were competitions for females, held to honour the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus.

7. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
The Events (cont’d.)
Figure 2.1. Entrance to the Olympic stadium at Olympia

8. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
The Events (cont’d.)
Table 2.3. Olympic events & their introduction to the Games (Adapted from Sweet,1987)

9. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
The Events (cont’d.)
Figure 2.2. Starting grooves in the Olympic stadium at Olympia
Figure 2.3. Vase painting of competitors in the Ancient Olympic Games

10. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
History - Politics
It is believed that a truce was declared throughout the whole of Greece for the duration of the Ancient Games
The IOC and the United Nations use this belief as part of the justification for a modern Olympic Truce – declared throughout the world during the Games.
The Games of 424 BC were held with armed troops present for protection against an attack from the Spartans (Swaddling, 1999: 99).

11. Amateurism and Professionalism
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Amateurism and Professionalism
Records suggest that athletic guilds similar to today’s players’ associations and unions existed during the Ancient Games.
Despite this, the myth of the noble ancient amateur athlete became interwoven with modern Olympic philosophy.
Linked to this view is the larger issue of the role of commercialism in the Games of the modern era.

12. Amateurism and Professionalism (cont’d.)
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Amateurism and Professionalism (cont’d.)
Those who favour a less commercial Olympics have harked back to the Ancient Games as being ‘pure’ sport, exempt from the taint of ‘filthy lucre’.
But, herein lies another Olympic myth: during the Olympic festival, the ancient Olympia was the scene of much commercial activity.

13. Women at the Ancient Olympics
Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Women at the Ancient Olympics
Founders of the modern Games, reflecting on the ancient Games, believed that the Olympic Games should be the preserve of male athletes.
However, at the ancient Olympics, female virgins were granted admission to the Games.
Records indicate that despite certain restrictions there were female winners at the ancient Games.
Such inconsistency was possible because, in the horse races, the prizes were awarded to owners rather than the charioteers or jockeys.

14. Chapter 2: The Ancient Olympics
Demise of the Games
With increased training and specialisation the athletes themselves (rather than the influence of Gods) began to be credited for their sporting successes or failures.
As the Romans later incorporated the Greek mainland into their territory, the end of the Ancient Olympic years of glory was signalled.