The modern Olympic Games are the world’s leading international sporting events. They are inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece, every four years; this period is called an Olympiad. So why did the ancient Greeks organize these sporting events?
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As a Way of Worship
Like almost all Greek games, the Olympic Games were an essential part of a religious festival. They were dedicated to honoring Zeus at Olympia, which was then part of Elis, a city-state in northwestern Peloponnese.
According to legend, the Games were first organized by Hercules, son of Zeus and Alcmene. However, archaeological evidence has shown that the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, which means all games before 776 BC were founded on myth, not real historical evidence.
Being Banned and Forgotten
The Greeks, and later the Romans, met at Olympia for thousands of years to celebrate festivals to honor Zeus and to ensure that the Olympic Games continued to play an important role. They were still being organized until the 4th century AD. In 393 AD, the Christian emperor Theodosius I forbade the celebration of pagan cults, which included the Games. But the popularity of the Games continued to influence many provinces of the Roman Empire as late as the 6th century AD.