The first Olympics were celebrated in 776 BC, the year of the armistice between Iftos, king of Pisa in Elis, and Lycurgus, legendary legislator of Sparta.
The truce was considered binding for all of Greece and established that rivalries between the various Greek states had to subside for a month to allow athletes to participate in the games.
- Furthermore it was decided that the Olympics should be held every four years in the city of Olympia in Elis and that they should be placed under the high patronage of Zeus.
Athletes from all over the Greek world, men and women, participated in the races, but only the male public was allowed to watch the races. The winners were rewarded with laurel wreaths and enjoyed enormous fame throughout Greece.
During Roman domination the games were celebrated in Rome in the year 80 BC. at Silla's behest.
They then had a new period of flowering with Augustus and the first emperors. Interrupted for the first time by the invasion of the Heruli in the 3rd century AD, they were definitively banned in 393 AD. by Emperor Theodosius.
Source:
- Atlarte, Atlas of Art History (De Agostini)
- Image source worldhistory.org/
This article was translated with Google Translate. Sorry if it's not perfect
Latest article published of Acculturarsi: The historical and artistic heritage: the gold mines that Italy does not know how to exploit!
Commenti