Discover the fascinating history and unique facts about the Ancient Olympic Games, a spectacular showcase of athletic prowess.
were a magnificent spectacle that captivated the Greeks for nearly 12 centuries. These games were not just a sporting event but also a religious festival and a social and cultural highlight of the Ancient Greek calendar.
At the heart of the Olympic Games was a religious festival in honour of Zeus, the King of the Greek Gods. On the middle day of the festival, a vast number of cows were slaughtered, and once Zeus had been given a small taste, the rest was for the people to enjoy in a massive barbecue. The sanctuary of Olympia, situated in the north-western Peloponnese, was the venue for the games for the first 250-plus years. At the height of the games’ popularity in the second century AD, at least 40,000 spectators would have packed the stadium each day, with many more selling their wares outside.The Ancient Olympic Games were full of intriguing facts that highlight the unique nature of the event. All athletes competed naked, and wrestlers and pankration competitors fought covered in oil.
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