Olympic+Games

The Olympic Games were first created as a religious festival to please the gods. The first recorded Olympic Games was held in the Stadium of Olympia in 776 B.C. The Olympics were held every four years. In the early games, the only type of competition was a 200 yard dash; later, wrestling, the pentathlon, which consisted of the discus, javelin throw, long jump, and a sprint; boxing, and then chariot racing was added. When the Roman Republic conquered Greece during the 100s B.C., the Olympic Games were adopted into Roman culture. This is an example of cultural diffusion. These games were for men only at first, but that changed when women were allowed to spectate.

This is a jar mural depicting Greek runners at the Olympic Games.

Sites: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/1453062/76169/Ancient-Greek-vase-depicting-Olympic-runners-525-BC

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Created by Elizabeth Thompson on September 23, 2008