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Chelyabinsk State Academy of Culture and Arts.
Faculty of Cultural Studies.
Department: Social and cultural activities.
Abstract
Discipline: History of socio-cultural activities.
Subject: Olympic Games in ancient Greece.
Chelyabinsk 2015
Introduction
1. History of the Olympic Games
2. Rules, conditions, traditions of the Olympic Games in ancient times
3. Olympic Games program
4. Tradition of lighting the Olympic flame
5. The significance of the Olympic Games
Conclusion
References
Introduction
All ancient Greek holidays and sports games are associated with the gods. The famous Olympic Games that Ancient Greece gave to the world were not the only ones in the era of antiquity. The origins of the first Olympiads are lost in antiquity, but in 776 BC. e. The name of the winner in the race was written on a marble plaque for the first time, so this year is considered to be the beginning of the historical period of the Olympic Games. The site of the Olympic festivities was the sacred grove of Altis in Olympia. The place was chosen very well. All buildings, both early and later - temples, treasuries, stadium, hippodrome - were erected in a flat valley framed by soft hills covered with dense greenery. Nature in Olympia seems to be imbued with the spirit of peace and prosperity that was established during the Olympic Games. In the Temple of Olympian Zeus there was a statue of the god created by the sculptor Phidias, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Thousands of spectators flocked to the sacred grove. In addition to the spectacle of athletic competitions, trade deals were concluded here, public performances by poets and musicians, and exhibitions of works by sculptors and artists took place. Here new laws and treaties were announced, and important documents were discussed. From the moment the holy month of games was announced, all warring parties ceased hostilities...
Purpose of the study: Historical analysis of the Olympic Games in the context of the development of ancient Greek civilization in the Hellenistic period.
1. History of the Olympic Games
The birth of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece coincided with the time when history was made by myths and legends. From the works of ancient Greek historians, philosophers and poets that have come down to us, we learn that the Ancient Olympic Games are associated with the names of the folk hero Hercules, the legendary king Pelops, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Hellenic king Iphitus.
The second ode of the ancient Greek poet Pindar says that the birth of the Olympic Games is associated with the name of Hercules. In 1253 BC. e. The Hellenic king Augeas ordered Hercules to clean the royal stables, which had not been cleaned for a year, in one day. Using his strength, Hercules changed the direction of the two rivers, passing them through the stables, so that the water helped him complete the work on time. When the king refused to fulfill his promise and give Hercules part of his horses, he killed the king and members of his family, organizing in honor of this a large competition dedicated to Zeus, which allegedly marked the beginning of the Olympic Games. (6)
Olympia was located in the Northwestern part of the Peloponnese, 20 km from the Ionian Sea, 275 km from Athens and 127 km from Sparta. On the southern side it was washed by the Alpheus River, on the western side by the Kladey River, and on the northern side was Mount Kronos. In the east there was a lowland, flooded with the waters of Alpheus. The choice for the Olympic stadium near Mount Kronos is explained by the fact that the slopes served as a natural platform for spectators, which housed 40 thousand people and an arena of approximately 213x29 m. On the territory of Olympia there were: a hippodrome (730-336 m) where horse racing was held, gymnasium, a courtyard surrounded by a colonnade, with running tracks, areas for throwing, wrestling, various exercises, ball games, rooms for hygiene procedures, baths, etc.; living quarters for participants of the Olympic Games were adjacent to the gymnasium.(3)
It is known that only men from among free citizens took part in sports games, who were never brought to trial and never caught in dishonorable acts. Women were not allowed even as spectators on pain of death. They also had their own competitions - running. Thanks to numerous texts and ceramic paintings, we now know what sports existed in Ancient Greece. Athletes competed only naked to demonstrate the beauty of their bodies.
This clearly demonstrated the physicality of ancient Greek culture. The cult of the body was so great that nudity did not evoke feelings of modesty. The rules prohibited killing an opponent, resorting to illegal techniques, and arguing with the judges. The winners were also awarded solemnly. The winners of the games (Olympians) were awarded wreaths made from wild plums that grew near the temple of Zeus. On the last day of the holiday, a solemn procession was organized in honor of the winners, and the Olympian’s return to his hometown turned into an unworthy triumph. The whole city came out to meet him, the city authorities organized a feast, and a statue of the winner was erected in the square: he became a national hero and was respected throughout his life.
The preservation of the tradition of organizing competitions for more than eleven centuries, despite wars, epidemics and other social upheavals, in itself speaks of the enormous social significance, which was played by the Games in Ancient Greece.
The athletes of this period reflected, on the one hand, strength and power hometown, and on the other - the pan-Hellenic ideal of all-round development and physical perfection of the individual. And it is deeply symbolic that for long and intense preparation, difficult trials in the competition, the winner at Olympia was awarded only a wreath of an olive branch. It was a symbol of selflessness wrestling. Honors and glory came to the winner as a sign of gratitude and love of his compatriots, that is, they were the result of public recognition. Initially, only residents of the Peloponnese took part in the Olympics. Then representatives of neighboring states - Corinth, Sparta, etc. - began to participate in them.
For human ambition, the Olympic Games provided a rewarding arena. All famous people and all those who thirsted for fame flocked here. After the Persian wars, Themistocles appeared in Olympia and during the ceremonies attracted the attention of the people. The philosophers Anaxagoras, Socrates, Aristippus and Diogenes also visited here; some of them taught the crowd with their moralizing sermons, others caused scandals with their cynical antics. Pythagoras and Plato were often present at the stage, who were keen on wrestling, especially since in their youth they themselves won victories in it. The orators Gorgias, Lysias, and Demosthenes often appeared here and gave the whole of Greece the opportunity to listen to examples of their art. The poets Pindar, Simonides and many others looked here for inspiration, and perhaps even clients.
Mixed with the great people were various charlatans, who evoked respectful amazement among the crowd of onlookers. The most original among such charlatans was, perhaps, Menecrates. (3)
2 . Rules, conditions, traditionstions of the Olympic Games in ancient times
Olympic celebrations took place every four years. It was the same mobile holiday as, for example, Christian Easter. Its celebration took place from the 11th to the 15th day of Hieromenia, that is, the holy month, which began with the first new moon after the summer solstice. Thus, it fell at the end of June and the beginning of July of the new style.
Special ambassadors were sent from Olympia and went in groups to the distant shores of the Black Sea, to Egypt and the Spanish colonies, informing the Greeks about the day of festivities. At the same time, these ambassadors, who bore the name of Feori, proclaimed sacred peace.
Here are a few articles from this resolution:
1) All hostilities must cease in all countries as soon as hieromenia is declared.
2) For all peoples taking part in the festivities, the country where the sanctuary of Zeus is located must be inviolable.
3) Any foreign detachment entering the territory of Elis must lay down their arms.
4) Those who want to take possession of this territory or will not help the Eleans against the sacrilegious enemy, may they be struck by the curse of the gods.
5) A fine of 2 mines (about 75 rubles) per warrior will be imposed on all those who violate the truce.
6) In case of refusal to pay this fine, the perpetrators will be subject to excommunication.
7) Anyone who offends a traveler going to the Olympic festival will be subject to a curse and a fine.
Since the holiday gave rise to the organization of a large fair, wooden barracks were lined up along the high road and the fence walls, where all kinds of merchants sat.
But the most serious attraction of the festivities were the religious ceremonies and games. Everyone donated according to their means. Rich people made up entire hecatombs. More modest pilgrims were content with sacrificing a ram, a kid, a few drops of wine, a few grains of incense. According to established rules, the Olympian gods entered into direct communication only with the citizens of Elis. The foreigners had to be represented by one of the Eleans. In addition, foreigners were subject to a special tax, but usually this obstacle did not stop even the poorest person. Therefore, pious people surrounded the altars from morning to evening, where libations of wine, incense and blood were poured out.(2)
The celebration took five days:
On the 1st day, the participants of the Games took an oath in front of the altar of Zeus to comply with all the rules of the competition, and sacrifices took place.
On the 2nd day, competitions were held in the boys group,
in the 3rd men's competition,
to the 4th cavalry district,
on the 5th day it ended with sacrifices and was dedicated to the solemn ceremony of presenting awards.
The name of the Olympian winner, the name of his father and fatherland were solemnly announced and carved on marble slabs exhibited in Olympia for public viewing. The Olympians were so famous that the year of the Olympiad was often named after the winner. Since the 7th Olympiad (752 BC), athletes have been awarded wreaths from the branches of the “beautiful wreath olive tree,” according to legend, planted by Hercules himself; from the 60th they were allowed to erect their statue in Altis. During the feast that followed the competition, solemn hymns-epics were sung in honor of the Olympians, composed by the famous poets Pindar, Simonides, Bacchylides and others. The ancient Greeks considered victory a sign of the deity’s favor, Zeus’s attention to the athlete and to the city where he came from. In their homeland, Olympians were exempt from all state duties and enjoyed places of honor in the theater and at all festivities; There are cases when Olympians were deified and revered as local heroes.
Judges and competition regulations. The leadership of all competitions belonged to the Hellanodics, or Hellenic judges. These were the officials of Elis, appointed for each Olympiad by lot from a limited class of citizens. There were ten of these judges. They began to perform their duties ten months before the start of the festivities. Going to Olympia, before entering the sacred enclosure, they performed ablution and slaughtered a pig as a sacrifice. In Bouleuteria they took the oath from the competitors, their families and teachers. The Hellanodics themselves swore to fulfill their duty before the altar of Zeus of Hercaean and tested athletes, children, horses and foals; they distributed them into categories, compiling a list of opponents for each competition.
Here are the main articles of the charter: 1) Slaves and barbarians are excluded from the games. 2) Also excluded: those who have been punished by court; all murderers, even those who committed a crime through negligence; people who are subject to sacrilege; all private individuals or citizens of those states who have not paid the fines imposed on them. 3) All participants in the competition must register in advance, within the time limits established by law, at the Elis gymnasium, perform a well-known test there and take the oath. 4) Those who fail to show up on time are not allowed to participate in the competition. 5) Married women are certainly forbidden to appear in Altis and at the competition sites during great festivities. 6) The teachers of the competitors during stage games are placed behind an adjacent fence and must remain completely naked there. 7) Under threat of loss of reward and imposition of a fine, it is prohibited to kill your opponent intentionally or through negligence in wrestling or in a fist fight. 8). It is prohibited to push your opponent or resort to any unfair techniques. 9) It is prohibited to intimidate your opponent and offer him a monetary reward so that he succumbs in the fight. 10) Punishment with rods threatens anyone who attempts to bribe judges. 11) It is prohibited to express public protest against the decisions of judges. 12) Any participant in the competition who is dissatisfied with the verdict of the Hellanodics may complain to the Olympic Council and seek the conviction of the guilty judges at his own peril and risk.
Any wrong action was punishable by a fine established by law and imposed by judges. Not only the competitor's family, but also his hometown were responsible for paying this fine.
Participants of the competition. Everyone who wanted to take part in the Games was included in special lists within a year of their opening. They swore an oath that they would prepare for the upcoming competition for at least ten months. Except former winners in Olympia and several athletes who had worldwide fame. But most of the future participants in the competition spent the entire ten months intended for exercise in this gymnasium. They were housed in rooms adjacent to the gymnasium. The training took place in special schools, the stay in which was paid for by the participant himself. Then, 30 days before the opening of the Games, all potential participants arrived in Olympia for a centralized gathering; everyone had to pass a series of tests in the Elis gymnasium for 30 days; Athletes who arrived at the competition began training under the supervision of special judges (“hellanodiki”), who then dealt with the admission of athletes to the Games.
People from all over the Greek world took part in the competition. Despite the fact that in appearance the organization of the games was free, participation in the competitions was available only to citizens of the upper classes: only rich people had the opportunity to equip teams for the hippodrome, train horses for racing, and cover the costs associated with maintaining a large stable. The common people could not even take part in stage competitions due to the need for lengthy preparation, travel expenses and stay in Elis. Indeed, members of aristocratic families took part in the competitions at the hippodrome, and the competition on the stage took place between representatives of the bourgeoisie.
As the games approached, the athletes were transported to Olympia and settled in special rooms. Their entry into Bouleuterium took place with great pomp and in the presence of their fathers, brothers and teachers. Having entered there, the participants in the competition stretched out their hands to the altar of Zeus of Hercaean, where they indulged in burning the insides of a wild boar, and before the Hellanodics they took an oath to behave in accordance with the requirements of the charter. (5)
The first day opened with stage competitions. Long before dawn, all the pilgrims, distributed by nationality, crowded onto the slopes of the mountains. At sunrise, a trumpet sound was heard. The Hellanodics in red robes crossed the entire competition field and took their places opposite the start. Around them, in places of honor, sat the officials and priests of Elis, public guests, representatives of different states, and all eminent foreigners. Nearby stood the throne of the only married woman whose presence was allowed at this spectacle, namely the priestess Demeter-Hamina.(2)
3 . ProgramOlympic Games
The games took up most of the three days of the pilgrimage. 40 or 50 thousand people, who came from all parts of the world, for an infinite number of hours experienced divine pleasure in contemplating how people inflicted on each other fatal blows fists, and the horses competed in running speed. But what drew the Greeks to this spectacle was not the raw passion for the gambling of modern European horse racing. Aesthetic aspirations, the need to admire the two kings of nature - man and horse - in the flowering of their beauty and outburst of courage - this is what fascinated the Hellenes. This pleasure was mingled with patriotic excitement. Each one addressed his eager prayers to the gods for the victory of his native city in these arenas where all the Greek peoples gathered. It goes without saying that the motivator of the competitors was, first of all, their personal pride. They sought to arouse admiration for their strength or luxury, but they were also pleased that with victory they would glorify their fatherland.
Greek gods and mythological heroes were involved in the emergence of not only the Olympic Games as a whole, but also their individual disciplines. For example, it was believed that running one stage was introduced by Hercules himself, who personally measured this distance in Olympia (1 stage was equal to the length of 600 feet of the priest Zeus), and pankration dates back to the legendary battle of Theseus with the Minotaur. (1)
In addition to athletic competitions, an art competition was also held at the Olympic Games, which became an official part of the program from the 84th Games (444 BC).
At first, the program of the Olympic Games included only a stadium - a race of one stage (192.27 m), then the number Olympic disciplines has grown.
At the 14th Olympic Games (724 BC), the program included diaulos - a 2nd stage run, and 4 years later - a dolichodrome (endurance run), the distance of which ranged from 7 to 24 stages.
Foot race.
But then the trumpets sounded again. A herald appears in the arena and loudly shouts: “Competitors in the race, come out!” One of the police commanders calls the athletes, and the herald introduces them to the crowd, telling them their name and place of birth, and asks if anyone disputes their dignity as a citizen and an honest man. One of the Hellanodics addresses the athletes and orders the unworthy to leave. Then the participants in the competition go to a special building located between the stage and the hippodrome, where they take off their clothes and rub themselves with oil. When they reappear naked, the urn of Zeus is brought into the arena, i.e. a silver vase containing wooden tablets with letters engraved on them. Each participant in the competition draws by lot one of twenty places, which he will have to take. Alitarch selects these boards, checks them and takes the athlete to his place. A trumpet sounds and the four competitors begin to run.
All five groups of competitors, each consisting of four people, ran one after the other. The winners of this preliminary race would then compete. The judges pronounced their verdict, and the herald announced who was the final winner, the main Olympian, after whom the Olympiad was named.(4)
It was just a simple run. With a double run, it was necessary to start running from the place of the Hellanodics and return again to them. During the six-run, you had to run six times along the entire arena. Like running, the various types of wrestling became more and more difficult.
Running with weapons.
It was delayed towards the end of the games. This competition consisted of running a stage twice in military weapons. Initially, this run was carried out in full armor, that is, with a shield, spear, helmet and legguards, but little by little this burden was relieved, and in the 4th century they went out only with a shield. (4)
Struggle.
At the 18th Olympic Games (708 BC), wrestling and pentathlon (pentathlon) competitions were held for the first time, which included, in addition to wrestling and the stadium, jumping, as well as javelin and discus throwing;
In a simple fight they went out with their bare hands. The winner was the wrestler who knocked down his opponent three times in such a way that he touched the ground with his shoulder blades. The question of who the competitors had to fight with in the pair was decided by lot. Two letters A, two letters B, etc. were placed in the urn. Those who took out the same letter fought with each other; then, also by lot, the winners were paired together. They did this until there was only one winner left. These rules were followed both in fist fighting and in the so-called pankrat.
At the 23rd Olympic Games (688 BC), fist fighting was included in the competition program. When going out to fist fight, the wrestlers put a special bronze cap on their heads, and wrapped their fists with leather belts with metal bumps. It was a tough fight. When preparing to strike, the wrestler at the same time took precautions: he protected his head with raised hands, tried to ensure that the opponent was blinded by the sun; then with all his might he hit his opponent’s ribs, face and various members with his fist, as if clad in iron. Usually they came out of this struggle disfigured, crippled, bleeding; often it ended in death. The fight continued until one of the opponents admitted defeat.
Pankrat.
Pankrat was a combination of wrestling and fist fighting. The fighter had the right to strike, knock him to the ground and squeeze his opponent’s throat, but it was forbidden to use his teeth and put metal armlets on his hands. Often the opponent was deprived of the opportunity to act with a special technique in which fingers were twisted or broken.
Pentathlon.
Pentathlon included five different competitions: jumping, discus and dart throwing, simple running and wrestling. The last two tests have just been described. When competing in jumping, they entered a special embankment; To increase the jump, the competitors swung weights. Thanks to this, jumps reached enormous sizes - as they say, up to 50 feet.
Children's competitions were an exact repetition of adult competitions. However, for a long time, pentathlon was excluded from them, as the competition was too difficult for a young age.
Chariot race.
At the 25th Olympic Games (680 BC), chariot races (drawn by four adult horses) were added; over time, this type of program expanded; in the 5th-4th centuries BC, chariot races drawn by a pair of adult horses began to be held, young horses or mules);
The oldest competitions at the hippodrome were chariot races drawn by two or four horses. These competitions have always remained the most favorite in Greece.
It was necessary to go around the pole at the start twelve times. In a later era, teams of mules and chariots with a pair of horses, as well as with a pair or four foals, began to appear.
At the 33rd Olympic Games (648 BC), horse racing appeared in the program of the Games (in the mid-3rd century BC, foal racing also began to be held) and pankration - a martial arts that combined elements of wrestling and fist fighting with minimal restrictions on “prohibited techniques” and in many ways reminiscent of modern martial arts.
The reward for victory went to the owners of the horse or chariot, and not to the riders or coachmen.
We do not know in what order these competitions took place. In ancient times, they all ended on the same day. As their program grew, they began to last three days. For the opening, children's exercises were arranged, in the morning next day running for adults was prescribed. Afternoon - wrestling, fistfight and pankrat. Horse racing took place in the morning of the third day, and pentathlon and running with weapons took place in the afternoon. But exceptions have been made to this rule several times.
From the 37th Games (632 BC), young men under the age of 20 began to participate in the competitions. At first, competitions in this age category included only running and wrestling; over time, pentathlon, fist fighting and pankration were added to them.
In the 4th century, two more competitions were invented: heralds and trumpeters.
The games held at Olympia gave rise to Panhellenic Games which also included:
Games at Delphi (Pythian Games)
Games in Corinth (Ancient Greek Folk Festivals)
Games in Nemea (Nemean Games).
All four of the Panhellenic Games inherited the organization and principles of the Olympic Games and were never held within the same year.
In addition to the Panhellenic Games in Olympia, major competitions were held in Athens. They are known as Panathenaic Games.
These Games were part of the Great Panathenaia, the largest festival in Athens, held every four years in honor of the goddess Athena.
Throughout Greece and the colonies there were local competitions, some more famous than others. Each city attached great importance to their organization.(1)
Olympic.
After each competition, the name of the winner, his father and the name of his homeland were announced by the herald. The athlete or chariot owner approached the judges. The next Olympics was named after the athlete who won these competitions. The Olympians (winners of the Games) were crowned in the temple of Zeus with an olive branch cut with a golden knife in the sacred grove. The Olympic motto consists of three Latin words - Citius, Altius, Fortius. Literally it means “Faster, higher, braver.” However, the more common translation is “Faster, higher, stronger” (in English - Faster, higher, stronger) (5)
Then relatives, friends, compatriots, acquaintances and unfamiliar admirers greeted him, threw flowers at him and lifted him onto their shoulders. The awards were distributed on the last day of the holiday. Initially, precious things, tripods, and expensive materials served as rewards. Subsequently, simple wreaths of wild olive, decorated with ribbons, began to be distributed; These wreaths were made from the branches of an olive tree, planted, as they said, by Hercules himself. It grew near the temple of Zeus, where the ceremony of distributing awards took place. The Hellanodics laid wreaths on the heads of the victors in the presence of officials and Elis priests, as well as in front of representatives of all Greek countries. Then a procession took place. The Hellanodics moved ahead, then the new Olympians, accompanied by civil and spiritual authorities, public guests and deputies of various nationalities, as well as statues of the gods; they descended into Altis, where an enthusiastic crowd awaited them. They moved slowly in their bright clothes, with wreaths on their heads, with palm branches in their hands, to the sounds of flutes and singing.
As the procession approached the altar of the 12 gods, the winners, surrounded by the assembled crowd, performed sacrifices and prayers of thanksgiving. Then the procession set off again. Now it moved to the prytaneum, where the citizens of Elis were preparing a great feast, to which all the privileged officials of Olympia, priests, proxenes and feors were invited. The crowd gathered at the door eagerly listened to the joyful cries that reached it. As soon as the names of the winners were entered into the list of Olympians in the gymnasium, the glory of the winners seemed to receive final recognition.
With this, the celebration officially ended, but usually it continued for several more days due to the generosity of the winners, who in turn invited their relatives, friends and compatriots to the feast. Alcibiades also invited all the pilgrims to his feast.
Beginning in the 6th century, the victors acquired the right to dedicate a statue to Altis. Initially, some figure of an imaginary person was most often erected for this purpose; but every athlete, crowned three times, could erect his own image.
Such portrait statues were usually commissioned from the best sculptors. The costs associated with this were borne by the winner himself, his family, teacher or hometown. “The most precious possession,” said one proverb, “is the golden statue at Olympia.”
The winner's return to his homeland was accompanied by the greatest celebrations. Surrounded by a large retinue of friends and curious people, he rode in a purple robe on a quadriga. A certain Exenetus from the city of Agrigentum made his entry accompanied by an infinite number of chariots, three hundred of them drawn by white horses. First, the procession headed to the temple of Zeus, to which the winner had to dedicate his wreath. Then, with the singing of a hymn and the sounds of trumpets, it moved into the prytanium. A magnificent national feast was organized in honor of the new hero.
The anniversary of this event was celebrated over a long period of time. On this day, Olympionist appeared in the sanctuary of Zeus, put on his wreath again, walked with his relatives and friends throughout the city, visited temples and gave everyone the opportunity to admire him. The state granted him various privileges. Two statues were often erected in his honor - one in Olympia, and the other in the public square, in the temple or in the gymnasium of his native city. A painted portrait of him was exhibited under the porticoes. In memory Olympic victories in many countries, and especially in Sicily, special coins were struck. In Athens, the winner was given a prize of 500 drachmas, in other places he received a lifelong pension, in Argos - a bronze shield, in Pellene - a woolen mantle. It was apparently intended to be carried out in advance public duties, in particular - to the management of the gymnasium. He enjoyed a place of honor in the theater, as well as at festivals and during battles. Sometimes the state took it upon itself to build his tomb. The horses that won were ensured a well-fed existence and a happy old age. At burial they received honors in the form of a large burial mound with a pyramid on top.
At the time of the winner's return or on the anniversary of his victory, some great poet, for example, Pindar, Simonides, was commissioned to write a triumphal ode, performed like an opera, accompanied by music and dancing. In these odes, not only the hero himself was glorified, but also his parents, ancestors, his sovereign and fatherland, the deities and heroes of his country and Olympia.
The Olympian's pride knew no bounds. Thanks to his momentary success, he fell into the ranks of the first people of his era. He became an important person, sometimes acted as an intermediary between various states, and was sure that he would be mentioned in history. Legends were created around his name. They even went so far as to begin to give him divine honors; The deification of some of the Olympians began during their lifetime: Euthymius of Locris made libations and sacrifices to his own image. (3)
4 . TradOlympic flame lighting ceremony
olympic game competition tradition
Olympic flame- one of the symbols of the Olympic Games. The tradition of lighting the Olympic flame existed in Ancient Greece during the ancient Olympic Games. It served as a reminder of the feat of the titan Prometheus, who, according to legend, stole fire from Zeus and gave it to people.
Prometheus showed compassion for people and stole fire from the workshop of the divine blacksmith Hephaestus, which he carried out secretly in a reed. Along with fire, he took the “wise skill” from Hephaestus and taught people to build houses, ships, cut stone, smelt and forge metal, write, and count.
As the myths say, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to chain Prometheus to the Caucasus rock, pierced his chest with a spear, and a huge eagle flew every morning to peck the titan’s liver, which grew again every day. Prometheus was saved by Hercules. Since fire had a divine meaning for the Greeks, it burned in many of the sanctuaries of Olympia. He was constantly on the altar of Hestia (goddess of the hearth). During the Olympics, glorifying Zeus, lights were also lit in the temples of Zeus and Hera.
In 776 BC, athletes began to compete at the ancient Olympic Games. Especially for their opening, the fire was lit and transported to the finish line. The process of delivering the Olympic flame meant maintaining the purity and strength of the natural elements in a continuous state. This was taken care of by 10 Athenian tribes (tribal associations), which allocated 40 trained young men for this process. Young people carried the torch from the altar of Prometheus straight to the Athenian altar. The distance was 2.5 kilometers.
History shows that in other cities of Hellas there was a cult of Prometheus, and in his honor Prometheus races were held - competitions of runners with burning torches.
The figure of this titan remains to this day one of the most striking images in Greek mythology. The expression “Promethean fire” means the desire for high goals in the fight against evil. Wasn’t that the same meaning that the ancients had when they lit the Olympic flame in the Altis Grove about three thousand years ago?
During the summer solstice, competitors and organizers, pilgrims and fans paid homage to the gods by lighting fire on the altars of Olympia. The winner of the running competition was given the honor of lighting the fire for the sacrifice. In the glow of this fire, rivalries between athletes, a competition of artists took place, and a peace agreement was concluded by envoys from cities and peoples.
That is why the tradition of lighting a fire and later delivering it to the competition site was resumed.
The modern ceremony of lighting the Olympic flame is performed in Olympia by eleven women portraying priestesses. The actress, dressed as a ceremonial priestess in ancient robes, lights the torch in the same way as was done at the Games of antiquity. It uses a parabolic mirror to focus the sun's rays onto one point thanks to its curved shape. The sun's energy creates large number the heat that ignites the fuel in the torch when the priestess brings it to the center of the mirror.
The fire is carried in a pot to the altar in the ancient Olympic Stadium, where it ignites the torch of the first runner of the relay.
In addition to the main torch, special lamps are also lit from the Olympic flame, designed to store the fire in case the main torch (or even the fire at the Games themselves) goes out for one reason or another.
The Olympic flame symbolizes purity, the attempt to improve and the struggle for victory, as well as peace and friendship.
(The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources)
5. The significance of the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games were the unifying center of the entire Hellenic world; the sacred ambassadors of the theory represented all Greek states in Olympia. The Olympic Games were especially revered by Greeks from distant places, whom they helped to maintain contact with the metropolis. Many Greek cities hosted games similar to the Olympic ones or built temples of Olympian Zeus (in Athens, Chalcedon, Akragant, Syracuse, etc.).
Artists and poets came to Olympia; since the 50th Olympiad, the custom of reading literary works and reciting poetry at the Olympic Games has been established. Herodotus, returning from the East, read chapters of his “History” here; Socrates, who walked there from Athens, conducted his conversations in Olympia; Plato, Empedocles, Sophocles, Isocrates, Demosthenes and others spoke with their works. During the Olympics, the Greek states announced the conclusion of important treaties, sealing them with oaths at the altars of the gods and notifying them all of Greece. The name, solemnly announced at the Olympic Games, became known throughout the Greek-speaking world. At the turn of the 4th-3rd centuries BC. e. the historian Timaeus of Sicily proposed calculating the years according to the Olympiads, four-year time periods, from one Olympiad to another.
By the 2nd century BC. e. Games are losing their luster as they become more of an event local significance. In 85 BC e. The Roman commander Sulla, who allowed his soldiers to devastate the treasuries of Olympia, moved the Games to Rome (175th Olympiad-80 BC), but after 4 years they resumed in Greece. The competition was restored with great pomp by the Roman Emperor Augustus. Germanicus received a wreath at the games, Tiberius in 4 BC. e. became the winner in the chariot race. In violation of all the age-old rules, Emperor Nero announced the games 2 years earlier than scheduled, ordered the destruction of the statues of all previous Olympians and introduced singing competitions, in which he became the first “winner.” After his murder, the games were declared void. In 394, the 293rd Olympic Games were banned as a pagan festival by decree of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I the Great.
In April 1896, on the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin, the First Olympics took place in Athens, marking the beginning of the modern Olympic movement.
Conclusion
Greek civilization is one of the most ancient in the world. She left an indelible mark on world history. It is still admired by philosophers, poets, mathematicians, sculptures, architects and, of course, athletes.
OLYMPIC GAMES OF ANCIENT GREECE - the largest sports competitions antiquities. They originated as part of a religious cult and were carried out from 776 BC. to 394 AD (a total of 293 Olympics were held) in Olympia, which was considered a sacred place by the Greeks. The name of the Games comes from Olympia. The Olympic Games were a significant event for all of Ancient Greece, going beyond the purely sporting event. Victory at the Olympics was considered extremely honorable both for the athlete and for the polis that he represented.
The ancient Olympic Games performed important cultural, pedagogical, economic, military and political functions. They contributed to the unification of the policies, the establishment of a sacred truce, spiritual and physical training youth and, ultimately, the prosperity of ancient Greek civilization.
The Olympic Games are now often used not so much for the sake of the ideals of peace and mutual understanding, but rather to satisfy national claims, personal ambitions, and commercial interests. The world is far from homogeneous.
And, nevertheless, the Olympic movement even today is a deterrent to conflicts between peoples.
References
1. Brabich V.M. Spectacle of the Ancient World.-1971.
2. Giro Paul. PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE OF THE GREEKS. Pilgrimage to Olympia. 1994
3. Giro Paul. PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE OF THE GREEKS. Olympic Games. 1994
4. Ryabkov. V.M. Anthology of forms of cultural and leisure activities. Ancient world. Ancient Greece.2006
5. Sokolov G.I. Olympia. - M., 2010.
6. Shanin Yu.P. Heroes of ancient stadiums. 1974
7. The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
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Legends and myths of the founding of the first Olympic Games - the largest sporting competitions of that time. Their foundation as part of a religious cult in Ancient Greece. Symbol of the Olympics. Main types of competitions. Frequency: every four years.
Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece are one of the greatest events in Hellenic history. The beginning of their implementation is precisely dated - this is 776 BC. The location of the festival was Olympia, a settlement and sanctuary located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese. Main role occupy in the festivities sports, victory is prestigious not only for the participant, but also for the city he represents.
The first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
The very first Olympic Games in ancient Greece were held in 776 BC. All subsequent games were held once every four years. From that moment on, records of the winners of the games began and the order of their conduct was established. The Olympics began every leap year, in the month of the ceremony, corresponding to the modern period of time from late June to mid-July.
History has preserved a large number of versions that justify the origin of the tradition of holding these sports competitions. Most of these versions take the form of legends, one way or another connected with the gods and heroes of Ancient Hellas. For example, the first place in the list is occupied by the legend according to which the king of Elis named Iphitus went to Delphi, where he received a message from the priestess of Apollo. The people of Elis by this time were exhausted by the constant armed rivalry of the Greek city-states, and therefore the gods ordered sports competitions and athletic festivals to be held. Thus, King Iphitus, in alliance with the famous Spartan ruler Lycurgus, as well as the Athenian reformer Cliosthenes, entered into an agreement on the procedure and rules for holding competitions. It was decided to hold the festival in Olympia, and from then on this place began to be considered sacred, where armed people were forbidden to enter. Another legend says that the games were started by Hercules, the famous son of Zeus, in honor of the victory of his divine father over Cronus.
There is also a legend that the very first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were arranged among themselves by none other than the gods. It was during these competitions that Zeus defeated the supreme god Cronus and took his place, becoming the ruler of the world.
Participants in the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
Initially, only local residents of Olympia could be athletes. However, by the thirteenth games, the inhabitants of all Ancient Greece join them. Subsequently, the participants in the Olympic competitions were joined by residents from the ancient Greek colonial cities, arriving from everywhere - from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
Participants in the Olympic Games in ancient Greece were only free Greeks who had never committed any crimes, had not broken an oath, and had not stained themselves with dishonorable acts. Accordingly, it was impossible for slaves and foreigners to represent any Greek city.
As for age restrictions, both adult men and young men could take part in the competition.
Women were prohibited from participating. Moreover, the restriction concerned not only participation in competitions, but also the very presence in the territory where the festival took place. An exception to the rule was the presence of a priestess, a representative of the goddess Demeter, and the driver of the quadrigas could be a woman, accordingly receiving the right to perform at the hippodrome.
The participants of the Olympic Games lived on the outskirts of Altis, where they trained a month before the opening of the competition. This tradition became the prototype of the Olympic village, which takes place in modern games. The costs of living for athletes in Olympia, preparing for competitions and various religious ceremonies were borne either by the athletes themselves - participants in the games, or by the city from which they competed.
Dawn of the Olympic Games
There is a reliable historical fact that during the Olympic Games any military operations ceased. This tradition was called ekeheriya, according to which the warring parties were obliged to lay down their arms. It was also prohibited to carry out court cases, and executions were postponed until later. Violators of the ekeheria rules were punished with a fine.
Types of Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
The most important, and apparently the most popular view The sport included in the program of the ancient Olympic Games was running. There is even information that an ancient king named Endymion arranged a running competition among his sons, and the winner received a kingdom as a reward.
There were several types of running competitions. First of all, it was an analogue of the modern sprint, running at short distance– actually from one end of the stadium to the other. The distance was 192 meters and was called the “Olympic stage”. Athletes competed completely naked in these competitions. Distance running was the very first and only competition in the history of the Olympic Games and remained so until the thirteenth Olympics. Starting from the fourteenth, the so-called “double run” was added to the competition. The athletes had to run from one end of the stadium to the other, then run around a pole and return to the starting point. Long running was added to the program of the fifteenth Olympic Games in addition to the above running competitions. Initially it included seven stages, but in subsequent years the length of the distances changed. Runners would run a stage, run around a pole, return to the start, and turn back around another pole.
In 520 BC, during the 65th Olympiad, another type of running competition appeared - the “hoplite race”. The athletes ran two distances in full armor - they wore a helmet, leggings and a shield. In later Olympics, only the shield was left among the weapons.
Also among the types of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were martial arts. It should be noted that the death of an athlete during fights was not something special, and even a dead fighter could be declared the winner.
Starting from the 18th Olympics, wrestling was included in the program of the games. It was forbidden to strike; fighting could only be done by pushing. There were two main positions - standing and on the ground. In Greek there were many names for various techniques.
After five Olympics, fist fighting appeared among martial arts. It was forbidden to kick the enemy, make grabs or trip him. Hands were wrapped with special straps, making this type of competition one of the most dangerous. Sources that have survived to this day vividly describe the damage caused by such blows. The fighter who won without receiving a single blow from the enemy deserved special respect. If the wrestlers got tired, they were given a break to rest. If there was no way to identify the winner, then a specific number of blows was assigned, which the opponents inflicted on each other in turn, and it was impossible to defend themselves. The loser was the one who voluntarily gave up by raising his hand.
In 648 BC, during the 33rd Olympiad, the so-called “pankration” appeared. This type of martial arts included kicking and punching. Chokeholds were allowed, but eye gouging and biting were prohibited. At first it was a competition only for adult men, and then, starting from the 145th Olympics, pankration was introduced for young men.
Later, pentathlon was added to the games program. In Ancient Greece, this sport was called "pentathlon". From the name you can guess that this type of sports consisted of five different sports - they began with the long jump, then there was one-distance running, discus throwing, and javelin throwing. The fifth sport was wrestling. To date, no precise information has been preserved about how the winner was determined. It is believed that all participants were divided into pairs and competed with each other. In the end, there was only one, the last couple left. He was distinguished by his special long jump technique. The athletes jumped straight from the spot without running up, and dumbbells were used to increase the distance of the jump.
Among Olympic competitions Horse racing also took place. It is noteworthy that women participated in them, since the winner was not the riders, but the owners of animals and chariots. Over the years of the existence of the Olympic Games, horse racing has changed. At first it was quadriga racing, then, starting from the 33rd Olympics, horse racing was added to it. In 1993, two-horse chariot racing appeared. The competitions were divided into two categories - young stallions competed in one, and adult horses in the other.
Sunset of the Olympic Games
In the second century BC. The Olympic Games began to lose their great significance, turning into competitions on a local scale. This is due to the conquest of Ancient Greece by the Romans. Several factors are considered to be the reasons for the loss of former popularity. One of them is the professionalism of athletes, when the games have essentially become a collection of victories on the part of Olympians. The Romans, under whose rule Greece came, perceived sports solely as a spectacle; they were not interested in the competitive spirit of the Olympics.
Who banned the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
The end of the thousand-year history of the Olympic Games was a consequence of a change in religion. They were closely intertwined with the Greek pagan gods, so their implementation became impossible after the adoption of the Christian faith.
Researchers associate the ban on the Olympic Games with a certain Roman emperor, Theodosius. It is he who publishes in 393 AD. a set of laws prohibiting paganism, and the Olympic Games in accordance with these new legislative acts become completely prohibited. Only centuries later, in 1896, the tradition of holding Olympic sports games was revived.
Olympia is an ancient Greek settlement located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese, in the south of the Elis region. It was washed from the south by the Alpheus River, from the west by the Kladey River, and in the north was Mount Kronos. And only in the east stretched a lowland, flooded with the waters of Alpheus. It should be noted that often in popular literature the site of the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece is mistakenly identified with the Olympus mountain range, located in northern Greece, which, according to ancient greek mythology, was the seat of the gods.
Already in the initial period of the Olympic Games, Olympia was recognized as the historical and cultural center of Ancient Greece with a large number monuments, the construction of which dates back to the first half of the second millennium BC. Mount Kronos, the mound of Pelops, the altars of Zeus, Hercules, Gaia and Hippodamia were considered holy places. Among the monumental structures, the first was erected the temple of Hera, in which Zeus was also venerated, as well as various treasuries located in a row at the foot of Mount Kronos, representing the sacrifices of the Greek colonies. However, in 472 BC. During the heyday of Athenian democracy, it was decided to build a temple of Zeus in Olympia. The majestic temple (64.12 x 27.68 m) was erected by the architect Libo in 457 BC. e.
A few years later, the famous sculptor, foundry artist, Phidias (490-431 BC), who completed the work of the Athenian Acropolis, arrived at Olympia and began making a gold and ivory statue of Zeus, majestically seated on the throne. Unique sculptures were created, among which the most famous was the cult statue of the goddess Hera (beginning of the 6th century BC on the throne next to the standing Zeus, as well as the statue of Hermes, the patron saint of shepherds and travelers, created by the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles in the temple of Hera, no less The statue of the flying Nike, the goddess of Victory Paionia, is known. The total height of the statue, together with the high triangular pedestal, was 11.9 m. Nike statues were erected in honor of victories not only in war, but also in sports and artistic competitions (Andronicos, 1992).
From this time on, intensive development of Olympia began. A guest house, a palaestra, a gymnasium, a stadium, a hippodrome and other structures were built that made it possible to host grandiose sporting competitions - the Olympic Games - with great success.
The Palaestra (3rd century BC), located in the western part of Altis, was a structure measuring 66 x 66 m, surrounded by a colonnade, behind which there were various rooms and semi-open spaces. In the courtyard, athletes practiced combat sports: wrestling, pankration and fist fighting. Long jumps were also performed here. If the weather did not allow you to train fresh air, athletes trained in special halls of the palaestra. There were halls for practicing fist fighting and wrestling. The same halls were used by athletes who trained in pankration.
The palaestra housed a variety of equipment and equipment for the successful training of athletes: leather bags filled with sand, flour or wheat for fist fighting, boxing gloves, discs for throwing, poles, weights for jumping, baskets for sand top quality, vessels with oil, special wells for a mixture of oil and mud used by wrestlers, etc.
There was a strict technology for preparing surfaces on the grounds and in the halls for wrestling, pankration and boxing. Only the highest quality sand and soil were used here.
The surface was thoroughly cleaned, loosened, compacted, and watered. This work required a lot of time and effort and was usually carried out by the practitioners themselves.
The gymnasium, built next to the palaestra, at the end of the 2nd century. BC was an open space surrounded by a colonnade. The size of the gymnasium corresponded to the stadium. The central part was a portico 219.5 m long and 11.3 m wide. It was here that a path equal to olympic distance- one classical stage. Its length, due to the unequal step size of the judges measuring it in Greece, ranged from 175 to 192.27 m. The largest, or classic, stage was in Olympia. According to legend, Hercules himself measured it. This is where the word "stadium" comes from. Adjacent to the gymnasium were living quarters in which athletes lived during the period of preparation and participation in the Olympic Games.
Olympic Stadium Through the efforts of German archaeologists, it was completely recreated in its original form. Few traces remained of the first stadium; the second stadium was located in approximately the same place as the first. In the middle of the 4th century. BC the stadium moved 75 m to the east. The stadium, built by the architect Leonid, had an arena measuring 213 x 29 m and seats for spectators (about 50 thousand) on the hills of Mount Kronos, which served as a natural grandstand.
For horse racing, a hippodrome measuring 730 x 66 m was built. Official guests of the Olympic Games stayed in a guest house, with bathhouses located next to it.
Olympia was glorified by poets and speakers, and myths and legends were composed about it. Pindar dedicated many of his odes to Olympia and the Games. “There is no other star more noble than the Sun, giving so much warmth and shine in the desert of the sky. So we glorify those that are nobler of all games - the Olympic Games,” the poet wrote.
Ancient Greece gave the entire civilization not only the largest cultural heritage, but also large-scale sports competitions, called the Olympic Games, which have become international in the modern world. Our article talks about ancient competitions.
Beginning of the Olympic Games
Ancient Greek myths say that the first competitions were held for Zeus at Olympia (a sanctuary in the Peloponnese). Hercules took part in them and won. The venue gave the competition its name.
The Olympic Games in Greece in ancient times are officially counted from 776 BC. e. as part of a religious holiday, which was celebrated on the 1st full moon after the summer solstice. The initiators of the organization of the competition are considered to be the ruler of Elis and the legislator of Sparta.
A special stadium with stands was built in Olympia. After gradual expansion, it could accommodate approximately 40 thousand spectators.
Rice. 1. Ancient Olympia.
During the Olympic Games, a sacred truce was established. After the official announcement of the start of the celebration, it was prohibited to conduct military operations throughout Greece.
Rules
The Olympic Games were held every four years. Lasted five days and was divided into two parts:
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- competition itself;
- religious ceremonies and honoring of the winners, who were awarded an olive wreath and palm branches.
The winners were determined by two judges, later their number was increased to an average of ten. A police detachment was placed under the control of the judges.
Only full-fledged male Greeks (also Romans after the seizure of Greek territories) could participate in the Olympic Games. A month before the start of the competition, those who wished to demonstrate their skills to the judges and took an oath to Zeus that they had devoted 10 months to training. The order of participants was determined by lot.
Greek women were not even allowed to watch the games, with the exception of the priestesses of the fertility goddess Demeter. There was a trick to participating: women could drive the chariots, and the owner of the horse or cart was declared the winner.
Special competitions were created separately for active women. The winner was awarded an olive wreath and food.
Rice. 2. Chariot racing in Ancient Greece.
Types of ancient competitions
Let us list and briefly describe the types of competitions:
- Running : first olympic event The sport was represented by a one-distance run (192 m) from the 1st to the 13th games, a double run from the 14th game, a long run (7 distances) from the 15th game, a fully armed run (2 distances with a helmet, with shield) from 65's;
- Martial arts : represented by fist fights from 23 games (trips, kicks, grappling were prohibited), pankration from 33 ( hand-to-hand combat, punching and kicking), wrestling with 18s (hitting is prohibited, pushing is acceptable);
- Pentathlon : pentathlon with 18 games, consisting of running, wrestling, long jump, javelin and discus;
- Chariot racing : quadriga racing (two-wheeled carriage with four horses) from 25 games, horse racing from 33, chariot racing with two horses from 93;
- Competitions between trumpeters and heralds : added from the 96th games as a special type of competition that combines aesthetics and sport.
Rice. 3. Antique running.
The Olympic Games lasted until 394 AD. e. They were abolished by the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius. During this time, 293 games were played.
What have we learned?
After reading an article about the Olympic Games in ancient times, we found out their features and conditions; learned the main types of competitions, the first of which was running. Using this information, you can compose a high-quality report on the topic outlined above for a 5th grade history lesson.
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The project tells the story of the origins of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, their relationship with the ancient Greek gods and heroes, their symbolism, and general cultural significance.
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IX city competition of abstract and research works
for students of grades 1-8 “Intellectuals XXI”
Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
(Socio-historical sciences)
4th grade, MBOU secondary school No. 89
Scientific supervisor:
Suslova Polina Yurievna,
primary school teacher
Chelyabinsk, 2014
- Introduction……………………………………………………………3
- Main part……………………………….................................. ...4
- The Olympic Games from inception to decline……………………...4
- Holy Olympic Flame……………………………………5
- How were the Olympic Games held in Ancient Greece……………6
- Conclusion…………………………………………………………….7
- References……………………………………………………8
Introduction
Project goal : study the history of the origins of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, their relationship with the ancient Greek gods and heroes, symbolism, and general cultural significance.
Project objectives:
- Study historical materials about the origins of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.
- Analyze the collected information and choose the most
necessary to create a project.
- To attract the attention of classmates to the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi 2014.
- Design the project in the form methodological development for class time.
- Conduct a class hour for classmates on the topic of the project.
Justification of the relevance of the chosen topic: You all know very well that the Winter Olympic Games are taking place in Russia in 2014. This is a grandiose and large-scale event for our country. Therefore, I would like to introduce you to the history of the Olympic Games, their symbolism, types of competitions and general cultural significance.
Practical significance of this projectis to conduct a class hour with the aim of drawing attention to the upcoming Olympic Games in Sochi 2014, the greatest and grandest event of our country.
The Olympic Games of Ancient Greece are the largest sports competitions of antiquity. They originated as part of a religious cult and were carried out from 776 BC. to 394 AD (a total of 293 Olympics were held) in Olympia, which was considered a sacred place by the Greeks. The name of the Games comes from Olympia. The Olympic Games were a significant event for all of Ancient Greece, going beyond the scope of a purely sporting event. Victory at the Olympics was considered extremely honorable both for the athlete and for the polis that he represented.
From the 6th century BC following the example of the Olympic Games, other pan-Greek athletic competitions began to be held: the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games and the Nemean Games, also dedicated to various ancient Greek gods. But the Olympics were the most prestigious among these competitions.
Main part
- Legends about the birth of the Olympic Games.
There are many legends about the origins of the Olympic Games. All of them are associated with ancient Greek gods and heroes.
The most famous legend tells how the king of Elis, Iphit, seeing that his people were tired of endless wars, went to Delphi, where the priestess of Apollo conveyed to him the command of the gods: to organize pan-Greek athletic festivals that suited them. After which Iphitus, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Athenian legislator and reformer Cliosthenes established the procedure for holding such games and entered into a sacred alliance. Olympia, where this festival was to be held, was declared a sacred place, and anyone who entered its boundaries armed was declared a criminal.
According to another legend, Pelops was called the founder of the Games. Having won the chariot race to commemorate his victory, he decides to organize an Olympic festival and competition every four years.
Some researchers claim that the Olympic Games were held in honor of the harvest festival. Therefore, the winners were awarded an olive branch and a wreath, which were first brought to Olympia by the son of Zeus Hercules.
Religious ceremonies were an obligatory part of the ancient Olympic Games. According to established custom, the first day of the Games was set aside for sacrifices: athletes spent this day at the altars and altars of their patron gods. A similar ritual was repeated on the final day of the Olympic Games, when awards were presented to the winners.
From the Olympic Games 776 BC The Greeks were counting down a special “Olympic calendar” introduced by the historian Timaeus. The Olympic holiday was celebrated in the “holy month”, beginning with the first full moon after the summer solstice. It was to be repeated every 1417 days that made up the Olympiad – the Greek “Olympic” year.
The Olympic Games eventually became a pan-Hellenic event. Many people came to the Games not only from Greece itself, but also from its colony cities from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.
And in 394 AD. The Olympic Games were banned - as a “relic of paganism” - by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly introduced Christianity.
- Holy Olympic flame.
The Olympic flame has become one of the symbols of the Olympic Games. It is lit in the city where the games are held during their opening, and it burns continuously until their end.
The tradition of lighting the Olympic flame existed in Ancient Greece during the ancient Olympic Games. The Olympic flame served as a reminder of the feat of Prometheus, who, according to legend, stole fire from Zeus and gave it to people. The Olympic flame symbolizes purity, the attempt to improve and the struggle for victory, as well as peace and friendship.
- How the Olympic Games took place in Ancient Greece
Special ambassadors traveled to all Greek cities. They appeared in city squares in Athens and Sparta, they were seen in the Greek cities of Asia Minor and on the flowering shores of the Black Sea, inhabited by the Greeks. Everywhere these ambassadors appeared, huge crowds of people listened to them with festive, joyful excitement. They reported on the day of the upcoming great festival - the famous Olympic Games. The Olympic Games were held in honor of the supreme Greek god Zeus every four years. It was a pan-Greek holiday.
But ambassadors in the squares of Greek cities not only announced the start of the games. They proclaimed the terms of the sacred peace, which was declared during the festivities. All military actions, wherever they occurred, immediately ceased. Violators of this condition were subject to heavy fines. For all tribes and peoples taking part in the festivities, the country where the sanctuary of Zeus is located is sacred and inviolable. Anyone who offends a traveler heading to the Olympic festivities is also subject to a curse and a fine.
Along all the roads of Greece, people hurried to the festivities in Olympia. Some rode on horseback or in carts, but most people simply walked. Although only men took part and were present in the festivities, the number of guests was still measured in many thousands. Olympic Stadium, where running and others took place gymnastic exercises, accommodated 40 thousand people and was always crowded. On the banks of the Althea River, during the festivities, a whole city of tents and huts grew up. Wooden barracks were lined up along the main road and the fence walls, and there was a lively trade in a wide variety of items.
At the first thirteen Games, the Greeks competed only in a short race of one stage, the length of which, due to the different steps of the measuring judges, was, as already noted, uneven - from 175 to 192.27 m. It is from this word that the name “stadium” comes from. The largest stade was in Olympia, since, according to legend, Hercules himself measured it. For more than half a century this type of running was the only competition on olympic holiday Hellenes. The runners started from special marble slabs that had indentations for their fingers.
So, the program of the ancient Olympic Games included the following types - running at stages 1, 2 and 24; struggle; pentathlon (pentathlon); fist fights; two- and four-horse chariot racing; pankration, running in military equipment, horse racing.
After the run, the fight began. There were several types of wrestling: the simplest of them was that opponents faced each other with bare hands. The winner was the one who hit his opponent to the ground three times. In a fist fight, the wrestlers put a bronze cap on their heads and wrapped their fists in leather belts with metal lumps. It was a very brutal type of struggle, often ending in serious injuries. There was another type of wrestling, which was a combination of wrestling and fist fighting. Only in this case it was forbidden to wrap belts around your fists.
The next day of competition began with the pentathlon. It included, in addition to running and wrestling, discus throwing, javelin and jumping. Those competing in the jumps climbed onto a special embankment, holding pear-shaped weights in their hands. Here they stretch their arms with weights forward - jump! - the arms are quickly thrown back, and the body rushes forward in a jump. Again the heralds proclaim the name of the winner. Then the discus throwing begins. The discus throwers line up one after another. They take a heavy bronze disk in their hand, rotate it several times in the air with their hand, and tilt it slightly to maintain balance. top part torso forward and rest their left hand on their right knee, and then at the moment of the throw they elastically straighten their body, and the disc, launched with a skillful hand, cuts through the air with a whistle.
The pentathlon ends with a javelin throw, which is not simply thrown as far forward as possible, but must hit a specific target when thrown. This was already a purely military exercise.
The last day of the games is dedicated to competitions at the hippodrome. The oldest and most favorite type of these competitions was chariot racing drawn by four horses. It was necessary to go around the pole at the start twelve times. Often these competitions, which required great strength and dexterity, ended in accidents. But what a wonderful sight the racing chariots present! Thousands of spectators watched the athletes with bated breath. After the chariot race, horse racing begins. They have one feature: before approaching the finish line, the rider must jump off the horse and run next to it, holding the reins in his hands.
The heralds again solemnly announced the names of the winners in individual competitions. The distribution of awards took place at the Temple of Zeus. The judges solemnly place simple wreaths of wild olive intertwined with white ribbons on the heads of the winners. The olive tree, from whose branches wreaths were woven, grows here; According to legend, it was planted by Hercules himself. This simple award is valued by the Greeks more than gold and jewelry, it gives its owners eternal glory and honor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that since ancient times the Olympic Games have been the main sporting event of all times and peoples. During the days of the Olympics, harmony and reconciliation reigned throughout the entire world. Wars stopped and all strong and worthy people competed in a fair fight for the title of the best.
As the site of the Olympic Games, Olympia was the historical and cultural center of Ancient Greece with a large number of ancient monuments. Mount Kronos, the mound of Pelops, the altars of Zeus and Gaia, Hercules and Hippodamia were considered holy places. Then, the temples of Zeus and Hera appeared. In honor of the Games, many beautiful statues, altars, and temples were built in Olympia. The most famous temple was Olympium, which contained a large statue of Zeus, over 12 m high, made by Fidial from ivory and gold.
Currently, the Olympic Games have become sports holidays. The best athletes from most countries of the world participate in them. Unlike ancient festivities, which took place in one stadium, the modern Olympic Games do not have a permanent capital and are held in different cities and countries. Over many centuries, the Olympic movement has overcome many obstacles, oblivion and alienation. But despite everything, the Olympic Games are still alive today. Of course, these are no longer the same competitions in which naked young men took part and the winner of which entered the city through a hole in the wall. These days, the Olympics are one of the biggest events in the world. The games are equipped with the latest technology - the results are monitored by computers and television cameras, the time is determined with an accuracy of thousandths of a second, the athletes and their results largely depend on the technical equipment. Thanks to the media, there is not a single person left in the civilized world who does not know what the Olympics are or has not seen the competition on TV.
In recent years, the Olympic movement has acquired enormous proportions and the capitals of the Games become the capitals of the world during their holding. Sport is playing an increasingly important role in people's lives.
References
- Vilkin Y.R. Where did the Olympics come from? - Minsk: Polymya, 1980.
- Kun N.A. Legends and myths of Ancient Greece. St. Petersburg, 2001.
- Furio Durando Greece. Per. from English M., 2001.
- Shanin Yu.B. Olympia. History of ancient athleticism. M., 2001.
- Bazunov B.A. Gods of the stadiums of Hellas. M., 2002.
- Pausanias. Description of Hellas. M., 2002.
- Ancient mythology. Encyclopedia. Comp. Korolev K. St. Petersburg, 2004.
