Sports & Games in Ancient Greece

Foot races were one event in the ancient Greek Olympic Games.

All athletes dream of someday winning an Olympic medal. Competitors in sports that range from fencing to synchronized swimming train for years to achieve the honor of representing their country at the Games. Ancient Greeks began holding athletic competitions like the Olympic Games as early as 776 B.C., but they were quite different from the Games of today. There were only a handful of different events, and only free men were allowed to participate.

Ancient Competitions

According to "Ancient Greek Games," Karen Carr's article in "Kidipede," Greeks believed that their gods favored strong, fit, graceful men and boys, so they encouraged exercise and healthy eating. Athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games, were common. The festival at Olympia wasn't the only major athletic event. Similar games were held throughout Greece, including the Pan-Hellenic Games, which brought together various city-states from the region.

Religion and Sports

Religion played a major role in these competitions. It was believed that winning was a sign of favor from the gods. Some believed that the winners were predetermined by the gods. Athletic festivals included an entire day of sacrifices to the deities. Cheaters were banned from sports forever, because it was believed that they had insulted the gods.

Athletes

Young men from affluent families spent time training for these competitions, so they could represent their city. According to the Olympic Museum, athletic training was part of the overall educational program, which took place at a gymnasium or palaestra. Athletes competed without clothes and often oiled their bodies to show off their physical fitness.

Original Olympic Sports

According to the Olympic Museum, athletic competitions lasted five days and included only individual events, no team sports. Athletes competed in events such as running, long jump, javelin and discus. There were also equestrian events, such as chariot races and horseback riding. One day included combat sports, such as boxing and wrestling.

Team Sports

It was also common for younger Greek boys to play team sports similar to modern field hockey and soccer. Only boys were allowed to participate and watch these games, because they usually played in the nude. According to Carr, several examples of Greek pottery portray girls playing games with balls, too, but they weren't allowed in competitions like the Olympics.

Other Games

Non-athletic games, such as dice, marbles and checkers were also common in ancient Greece, according to Carr. A Grecian vase on display at the Vatican portrays Achilles and Ajax playing checkers.

References

• Kidipede: Ancient Greek Games
• The Olympic Museum: The Olympic Games in Antiquity