Ancient Greek Olympics Essay Research Paper Ancient — страница 2

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was a favorite of the Greeks. The man who threw the farthest was regarded as the greatest athlete. Boxing was introduced in 688 BC. The boxers would wear leather straps and metal rings around their knuckles. The fight would only end when the opponent would cry for mercy or lay there unconscious. In 680 BC chariot races were part of the game. Only the ones rich enough ones who could afford chariots and horses would participate. The owner of the winning horse would receive a cotton head-band and the rider would get an olive leaf wreath. All Olympic winners were presented with prizes and if a man had won three Olympics in a row he would have a statue made just for him. He would also receive many great gift of honor, including the privilege of not having to pay taxes. Often when the

winner would return home, he would be escorted through a hole through the wall surrounding his city. The hole was made by the citizens to show the world that an Olympic champion lived there. Among many Olympic heroes in history, Milo of Croton was one of the most famous. He won six wrestling matches in a row during 600 BC. Milo supposedly developed his brute strength by carrying a calf on his bare shoulders. He did this until the calf developed into a full grown bull. He was said to have killed a lion with his bare hands and stopped a chariot by grabbing it with one hand. Another Greek, Olympic hero was Theagenes of Thasos. He had several special skills, he competed in boxing, sprinting, and the pancration. (combination of boxing and wrestling) He won at least 1,400 times. Women

were not allowed to participate in these games. They weren’t allowed to watch the games either. There was one women from Rhodes, she dressed herself in men’s clothing and went to the games. She went to the games to watch her son in a boxing match. When he won the match, she ran up to him and kissed him. That gave her away, but she wasn’t punished. Several years earlier her father, Diagoras, won a boxing match. He was one of the most celebrated of all ancient athletes. Her penalty of death was waived. The glory of the Games began to dim, and interest was lost among most people. Rich people began placing bets on the games. The original purpose of the Games were forgotten. Olympia began to decline. In 393 BC the games were ordered to be stopped, the were becoming a public

nuisance. The Greeks destroyed the Temple of Zeus and of Hera. Earthquakes and floods buried Olympia, so it remained lost and half-forgotten. Until 1875.