Olympic Games

Once every four years Olympic Games were held at Olympia in Ancient Greece. They were very popular. The best Greek athletes came together to run, jump, wrestle, throw the discus and the javelin and to fight each other with their fists. There was also a hippodrome where chariot races were held. The chariots were drawn by four horses. Women were barred until the 128th Olympiad at least, when a girl won a chariot race.

Thousands of Greeks and visitors from other lands came to watch the games. It became a tradition to stop wars during the Olympic Games. The first Games were held in 776 B.C.

The religious significance of the Games was lost with the rise of the Roman Empire. They became a pagan carnival. After athletes began to demand money, Roman Emperor Theodosius banned the Games in 394 A.D.…