I. Origin
The ancient Olympic Games originated in 776 BC and were held every four years in summer. At that time, wars continued year after year, and every city-state used sports to exercise warriors and make them strong. In this case, sports have developed and gradually formed organized sports competitions.
The ancient Greeks believed in polytheism, and every city-state held a grand religious gathering to express their respect for the gods through singing, dancing and competitions. The ancient Greeks believed that Zeus was the head of the gods, and the sacrifice to him was particularly grand.
The ancient Greek people hated years of war and longed for peace. They hope to have a truce in the name of God during the Olympic Games, so as to reduce wars and get rid of disasters.
Second, the venue.
The first Olympic Games were held in the village of Olympia, Arz Qushen, and then a rectangular stadium was built in the northeast corner of Qushen, surrounded by stands built according to natural terrain. The runway of the sports ground is 32 meters wide and can be used by 20 players at the same time, with a length of 192 meters. The starting line is paved with stone strips and engraved with two parallel small grooves for athletes to use when starting.
Three. Olympic pageantry
The ancient Olympic Games lasted for more than 1000 years, which was not only a competitive conference, but also a national festival. After the announcement of the "Holy Truce", many people flocked to Olympia, where representatives of the city-states took part in sacrificial activities and parades. Political envoys conclude treaties; Artists exhibit their works; Scholars and teachers discuss academics; The speaker made a speech; Businessmen display and sell goods; People wear the most luxurious clothes and carry the most exotic jewels.
The players fought bravely in the arena. They walked into the arena naked and showed their superhuman strength, strong body and good upbringing to the gods and the audience.
The Olympic Games also played a role in promoting political exchanges, promoting trade development, prospering Greek culture and integrating national feelings. The whole Greek people gathered together in a peaceful atmosphere, with rich contents and spectacular scenes, forming the biggest festival in Greece.
Fourth, decline.
At the end of 5th century BC, the Peloponnesian War led to the decline of slavery in Greece, which was also the turning point of the ancient Olympic Games from prosperity to decline. The war made the economy depressed and the social atmosphere low, and sports lost its original meaning and gradually became a means of pursuing wealth. At the sports meeting, there was a bad tendency of engaging in malpractices for personal gain and harming others, and the lofty ideal of the Olympic movement was distorted.
In the second century BC, Rome conquered Greece, and the ancient Olympic Games declined completely. At the end of the 4th century AD, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who ruled Greece, declared Christianity as the state religion and regarded the ancient Olympic Games dedicated to Zeus as a pagan activity. In 394 AD, Theodosius I ordered the termination of the ancient Olympic Games. Held 293 times, the ancient Olympic Games, which lasted 1 169 years, disappeared.
Five, the ancient Olympic Games competition regulations
1. The organizers of competitive competitions are representatives of slave owners and nobles, local officials and religious leaders, who have the right to decide the qualifications of athletes and spectators.
2. The arbitration committee of the competition will be composed of full-time priests of Zeus Temple and elected judges.
Anyone who bribes the referee or misbehaves in the game will be fined heavily.
4. Competitive competition can only be played between individuals, not between groups.
5. The contestants must be Greek, spotless politically, morally, religiously and legally, and their identities must be certified by the referee.
6, women can't participate in and visit the competition, and offenders will be executed.