Learning about the history of the Olympics

[dpappas87]

It's an Olympics year so I decided to learn a little bit about it.

Specifically, I'm drawn to its roots in Greece, where it all began. The tales from Olympia, where athletes from city-states across Ancient Greece competed, not just for glory but for the favor of the gods, paint a vivid picture of society's value system and cultural priorities at the time.

Yet, despite the bits and pieces of information I've gathered, I realize there's so much more depth and nuance to understand about how these games influenced, and were influenced by, Greek society and beyond. From the types of events that were held, the athletes who competed, to the very ethos that powered these competitions - each element seems to carry its own story.

 

[k_tsoukalas]

That's neat, I love the Olympics - and I am doing a similar thing. Here's some of what I have learned:

The ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, a sanctuary site in the Peloponnesian peninsula, in honor of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. The exact origins are shrouded in myth and legend, but it is generally agreed that the games began in 776 BCE. According to one legend, the games were founded by Heracles (Hercules), the son of Zeus, who staged them as a celebration of his father's dominance.

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