The original Olympic Games are generally agreed upon to have been first recorded in 776 BC in Olympia Greece, celebrated until AD 393. Scholars diverge as to the exact date, with some citing a date as early as 884 BC and as late as 704BC, but the date of 776 BC is the most universally agreed upon date for the inception of the Olympic Games.

Were the Olympics created to showcase warrior skills?

There are many myths and theories surrounding the origin of the ancient Olympic Games and why they were created. One theory, which is quite a popular one, is that Greeks were warriors by trade, and once their domination of land was largely secured, the need for war and battle was no longer necessary. To exercise these physical needs, which no longer had a natural outlet, the ancient Greek city-states started building gymnasiums, stadiums and training centers.

Continuing the tradition of physical excellence

The physical aesthetic of strength and a muscular build continued because this was the physical manifestation of warriors, and warriors were revered. Since warriors essentially no longer had a job, and their work no longer defined their status, the physical power of a warrior became the new aesthetic – and this was one that could be achieved by almost anyone with enough dedication and effort.

And now, since there were no wars to fight, games were created as a place for men to demonstrate their physical strength, prowess, and skill. These competitions were open to anyone who could afford the training, and each Greek city-state would elect a representative to send to compete. This was an incredible honor as it gave the chosen participant the opportunity to bring attention to his hometown.

Was Hercules responsible for the Olympics?

The most popular myth as to the origin of the ancient Olympic Games is that Heracles was the creator of the games. He built the first Olympic stadium to honor his father, Zeus, after Heracles completed a trying assignment of 12 labors. According to legend, Heracles walked in a straight line for 400 strides and declared this distance a “stadium” or “stage.” This is why the modern stadium is the distance of 400 meters in circumference.

The synthesis of religion and the Olympics

The Olympic Games quickly became a nationally important contest, reaching their height of popularity on the 5th and 6th centuries BC. As is the case with most of Greek life, the Olympics became a fundamentally religious declaration of importance, a way of honoring the gods, as well as the abundance of good life that the Greeks owed to these deities.

The number of games and events grew from just a few to twenty at their height of popularity, and the contests and celebrations were spread over several days. The winners of each event were highly regarded, awarded prizes, and immortalized in poems and statues.

The Olympic Games gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power in Greece and eventually brought to a halt after the final games in 393AD. The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, and the first modern Olympic Games were revived and held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.

Participation in the Olympic Games is still an incredible honor, bringing recognition to an athlete’s home nation, and participation has grown to include almost every country from around the world. The original Olympic Games were held every four years, and that is a tradition that continues through today’s modern Olympic Games.

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The Art of Ancient Greece has exerted a profound influence on the art and architecture we experience in today. The echoes of Ancient Greece can be seen in buildings, sculptures, and other works of art through the centuries and even in the modern lines of today’s designs.

The art of Ancient Greece is universally recognized as being divided into four periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic. However, in reality, there is no sharp difference marking the transition of one period to another. Instead, the styles blend and merge, together creating an aesthetic that is understood and widely recognized as one artistic movement.

Inspired by religion and mythology

Life in ancient Greece was heavily dominated by religion, influenced by mythology and the belief of the presence of a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Subsequently, Greek art in all of its forms is dedicated to honoring the gods and telling their stories.

In ancient Greece, gods were tangible figures that had shape, substance, and a well-known look. All Ancient Greeks knew what Zeus, the king of the gods, looked like, although nobody had ever seen him first hand. The same was true of all the major deities; they had a recognizable human form, complete with tokens and talismans that were often the source of their power.

The ancient Greeks could tell which god or goddess was pictured on a vase or in a sculpture just by looking at the representation. But part of the point of art is to transcend time and space, so clues, usually in the form of the specific god’s symbol, are usually painted or sculpted into every work of art.

The mythological stories told through pottery

Pottery was an integral source of art, and one that permeated life on a daily basis. Pottery was meant to be used, not merely displayed, which is why there is little remaining pottery and it is often badly damaged. Most of the pottery that survived into modern day includes drinking jugs, used for storing wine and water, as well as mixing bowls, which were used to prepare food. There are almost no remaining plates or cups because these were the pieces attracting the most wear and tear. Funeral urns and wine jugs that were presented as trophies are the exception to the daily use rule, and they are more plentifully preserved than some other pieces.

In early pottery, the designs were largely geometric and abstract. The pieces were made from clay that was left to harden, painted, and then fired in a kiln – using much the same process as is used today. Black, white, red and yellow were the most commonly available dyes, and these are the colors that will be seen most frequently. In later periods, stories of Greek history, mythology and religion were told on pieces of pottery. This was a way to reinforce their belief system and honor previous periods of history.

Greek sculptures of historical importance

Sculpture was another popular form of art in ancient Greece. Sculptures were usually made of stone (marble or limestone) or bronze. Bronze was a highly prized and expensive material, and thus, generally only families of extreme wealth could commission a statue or sculpture of bronze. Ancient Grecian sculpture carries on the tradition of other forms of art—telling stories of the gods, Greek history, and honoring the gods.

Most of the art in ancient Greece was functional and decorative, not only aesthetically pleasing. Greek art was used to remind people of their beliefs, what was important in life, and above all, to honor the gods to whom they owed so much.

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