Historians have established that the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. e. in Ancient Greece. Their ancestors, according to myths, are gods, heroes and kings. Then the civilization of Greece shone with its poets, philosophers, mathematicians, architects, sculptors and athletes. People of the time considered body beauty to be an art, and sports and exercise were part of everyday life.
Before the Olympics, ambassadors traveled to all cities in Greece. They stopped in city squares, and residents listened attentively to the news about the upcoming holiday. The Olympic Games were held in honor of the main god of Greece - Zeus. The holiday was repeated every four years. During the sports games, a sacred peace was concluded, the condition of which is the cessation of hostilities and the inviolability of civilians.
The Olympic Games were held in Elis, where residents came to watch the competitions. In this area of Ancient Greece, where Olympia was located, spectators also traveled by sea. Therefore, the mouth of the Alphea River and the Ionian Sea were filled with beautiful and solemnly decorated ships during the holiday.
Most people walked to the festival, no matter how far away the Olympic venue was. The wealthier inhabitants came on horseback. Only men could attend the competition, but even so, there were tens of thousands of spectators. The stadium where the celebration took place could accommodate about 40 thousand people.
At the time of the Olympic Games, a whole city arose on the banks of the Alfea River, which consisted of tents and huts. The main road was almost entirely occupied by wooden barracks, which supplied the residents with everything they needed. The town was filled with the excitement and noise of a huge crowd. Travelers sought to visit all the local attractions: the sacred grove, hippodromes, stadium, temples, altars and much more.
The first day of the Olympic Games opened with running competitions. The competition began at sunrise. Only free people who never broke the law could participate in the games. They put their names on the list a year before the holiday. There were 20 people in the main race, divided into five groups. In addition, there was a double and armed run.
After this sport, the struggle began. It was held in three categories: simple (without weapons), fist (participants in helmets, fists wrapped in leather spiked belts) and combined (fighters in helmets, but without belts). The next day, the pentathlon began, which included running, wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, and jumping. The Olympic Games ended with chariot races.
