Little Histories
The Ancient Olympic Games
More than two thousand years ago, the town of Olympia in Greece used to host the ancient 5-day long Olympic games. Olympia is a sacred site nestled in a verdant valley nourished by the Alpheios and Kladeos rivers and encircled by rolling hills. It was once home to an array of buildings, grand temples, and various venues dedicated to the celebration of athletic competition. Over the centuries, the effects of earthquakes, floods, and other natural events have destroyed much of what was there. Here is a sketch of how the place was designed, to host games that were watched by more than 30,000 people!
The Summer Festivals of Olympia, held continuously for 1,169 years from 776 BC, came to an end in 393 AD. More than 1500 years later, the modern Olympic Games that we know now emerged. Much has changed and new additions to the format have been added, such as the torch relay. However, some of the sports on display today still bear a resemblance to those from thousands of years ago.