History of the Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics just ended, and the US cinched yet another victory (albeit just barely) over the rest of the world. When one looks at the olympics of today, it can be hard to picture this conglomerate of different athletes all over the world participating in a multitude of events, some popular like basketball, soccer, tennis, and gymnastics, and other less-recognized events like equestrian, archery, and the newest event: breakdancing. It’s common when talking about the olympics for someone to bring up its rich history with the ancient Greeks, and how centuries ago they practiced the same sports we do today. But what does that actually mean? How different are today’s olympics than the olympics the Ancient Greeks practiced over two and a half thousand years ago?
The Ancient Olympics
The Ancient Greek olympics started with just a simple footrace in 776 BC dedicated in the honor of Zeus. Over the decades, the Ancient olympics grew to include the following events:
Running - this event has been there from the beginning, and it includes three main races: The State Race, the Diaulos, and the Dolichos.
The Stade Race, which was the most popular test of speed, covered the Olympia track from one end to the other (a stade), which was around a 200m foot race
The Diaulos - two states
The Dolichos - between 7 and 24 stades depending on the city/region of the tournament
Jumping - the long jump (halma) was added in 708 BC with the addition of the Discus Throw as part of the Pentathlon
This wasn’t an individual event, rather is was a part of a collection of events called the Pentathlon, which included Running, Jumping, and The Discus Throw
Discus Throw - Also added in 708 BC with the long jump, the discus throw was very similar to today's freestyle, the disk being made of stone and then iron, lead, or bronze
Wrestling - Wrestling was included with the addition of the Pentathlon in 708 BC. Wrestling was wildly popular, almost equivalent to modern day Football in America.
Upright wrestling was conducted in a sandy pit, and required one wrestler to throw the other to the ground three times.
Ground wrestling was only over when one man was so exhausted they couldn’t resist further.
Boxing - Boxing was introduced to the ancient Olympic Games in 688 BC, during the 23rd Olympiad
This one’s pretty self explanatory, but boxer’s would wrap their hands with straps, like leather, which would often disfigure the opponents face.
Pankration - added last around 648 BC, this was a primitive form of martial art combining wrestling and boxing
Greeks believed that it was founded by Theseus when he defeated the fierce Minotaur in the labyrinth.
Equestrian Races - horse races and chariot races took place in the Hippodrome, a wide open space for horse racing
