How Did Panhelleniic Games Influence Greek Culture

The Olympic games were an athletic competition help in Greece around every four years from 776 B.C.E. In 776 B.C.E, the first olympics were held in Athens where many competitors clashed during the sporting events. The olympics then stopped in 393 C.E. due to Theodosius I’s orders on stopping the olympic events. Later during 1896, the modern olympics began to take place. The olympics were different from the ancient olympics in that the competition was shaped due to social, political, and economic reasons.

In the article “Organized Greek Games “, William J. Baker’s goal is to educate readers on the differences between the ancient Greek Olympic Games, and today’s modern Olympic Games. William Baker not only explains the physical aspects of the games , but the relationship between the Greek religion and the Olympic games as well. William Baker’s article follows his thesis well; which was, “Virtually everyone knows that the modern Olympics are patterned on the Olympic Games of ancient Greece, yet few people have more than a hazy understanding of the original Olympics”.(article,pp58) William Baker wrote the “Organized Greek Games” in chronological order. An example of Baker writing the article chronologically, is when William Baker describes the Greek game 's schedule, and the events that were planned for each day in order. “the duration of the festival was set at five days, with only two and a half days devoted to the games themselves. the first day was given to religious ceremonies.”(article,pp61) In the “Organized Greek Games” William Baker quotes Socrates,“the body must bear its part in whatever man; and in all the services required from the body, it is of the utmost importance to have it in the best possible condition.”(pp.65) Baker got the information from primary sources. Some other primary sources used in the article other than Socrates, are from Milo Crotan, Ancient Philosophers, and Plato. (article,pp.65,66)

This investigation will explore the question, what are the similarities and differences of the impact of sports in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome? The question is relevant because sports, much like today, were important pieces in society for Ancient Greeks and Romans. A major accomplishment for athletes today would be to be in the Olympics which originated in Greece showing there is an impact in modern time. The issue that will be addressed is how sports impacted the lives of Ancient Greeks and Romans. This investigation will focus on the time period of 900 BC to 300 CE to extend the analysis of sports in the locations of Greece and Rome.

In the monograph, The Ancient Olympics, Nigel Spivey examines how culture encourages and shapes the Olympic Games, as well as become a safe haven for ancient Greece during times of conflict. This multifaceted monograph demonstrates that the societal behavior of the Athenians shifted within prescribed roles regarding the use of violence, the imagery of true beauty, and the love for Greece’s youth during the games. In addition to shedding light on society’s enlightening interpretation of what occurs within the gymnasia, the Olympic Games redirect a whole new meaning to conflicts that arise on and off the Olympic stage. Although the concept of a multifaceted culture revolving around incessant conflict is not new to the study of ancient Greece, it is Spivey’s unique analysis of the impact of the Olympic Games that make his argument so compelling to his readers. Specifically, Spivey argues that the behaviors captured during the Olympic games in ancient Greece and Rome are synonymous with the shifts in cultural norms observed , as well as society’s reactions to incessant conflict surrounding ancient Greece, within and outside of the Olympic gymnasia.

In Ancient Greece, winning was the only option, and this idea was demonstrated not only in their art, theater, and literature, but in their war. The Greeks were ferocious warriors, so much so that their entire society can be considered a warrior society. In order to always come out on top, Ancient Greek city-states, called "polis,” linked together through alliances. If one city went to war, the other city state would join in, and if they didn't then they would suffer

At regular intervals in antiquated Greece, rival city-states went into a formal cease-fire, putting aside political interest, lawful question and weapons of war to send their best competitors to the Olympic Games. Despite the fact that the first convention of the Olympics ceased to exist in the fifth century A.D., the perfect

One exceptionally significant custom of the Greeks still observed today is the Olympics. These ancient games incorporated a concept of free athletic competition without bloodshed. If the Greeks

The Greek city-states were often at war with one another. Throughout the course of the games the relationships between the states grew much stronger. But, if the games were scheduled during a time of war between some of the participating states a “Sacred Truce” was sent out to the states granting safe passage and one month of peace before the games began. This was always abided by and respected, because the Olympics had many religious ceremonies that were viewed as more important than war(The Olympic Games”).

The Greek games were very nationalistic and it is said that “states were said to have

According to the Olympics Game timeline, the first ever Olympic Games was held in 776 BCE, in Olympia which is in Athens, Greece. They were held there at olympia for 13 years. We don't know how the games began according to Robert Woff, some stories say the Zeus started the game. According to this story, it started out with Zeus and his father, Kronos were wrestling in olympia, who knew it would turn into what it has become. Wrestling wasn’t the only sport in the ancient greek olympics, there were many more that were involved. Some of the original events according to “Ancient sports” are boxing, equestrian events (chariot racing & riding), pankration, pentathlon (discus, javelin, jump, running, wrestling).

In the beginning there was nothing but void then came ket. Being all alone and with nothing to do he was very bored. He decided to play a game of chess, of course all by yourself chess isn't much fun at all. ket tried playing many other games but without anyone to play with they always ended the same. Feeling very discouraged he had sat down to think about his predicament when suddenly he jumped up and said “ i know just what to do i’ll create an endless game with rules that are always changing and pieces that play by themselves”.

The Ancient Olympic Games took place during a time of prosperity for the nation of Greece. In fact, they contributed to the success of the Greek Empire. The Olympic Games reinforced the power of ancient rulers, brought peace with the surrounding nations, and created a reliable way to track time. These ancient games have had such an influence, that they are still continued in our modern society.

The Olympic Games, was once a significant athletic festival that originated in ancient Greece as a religious festival which was revived in the late 19th century as a secular competition to

The Olympic Games began around 776 BC. They were held at Olympia every four years, in honour of Zeus, who was the father and most powerful of all the gods ( Zeus is shown on the coin pictured opposite).

The Ancient Olympic Games celebrated culture and politics as much as athleticism. Examining the Ancient Games through these lenses reveals a contradiction between fostering national Greek unity and the rivalries between Greece’s many city-states. Every four years, tens of thousands of Greeks from hundreds of different city-states came together to compete against each other in sports but also to conduct politics and important business. On the one hand, the Games were grounded in religion and myth, something common to all Greeks across the empire. However, the focus on individual athletes and their victories necessarily served to divide the city-states as they fought for individual honors and prizes.