Games of the Ancient OlympicsThe Olympics began in ancient Olympia Greece, which is located 10 km east of Pyrgos, in a valley between Mount Kronos, the river Alfios and the Kladeos. This area was inhabited by the Pisans, whose king was Oenomaus. His daughter Hippodameia had married Pelops, and the first games are said to have been organized in their honor around 1000 BC. Over the years the games began to attract interest in nearby cities. In 776 BC, the Elean leader, Iphitos, rededicated the games in honor of Zeus (the most important god of the ancient Greek pantheon). Due to the religious nature of the games, all warfare ceased during the competitions. The original games consisted of just one race, one day, with one cook, Coroibus of Elis, being the first winner. Later in time the powerful Spartans influenced the games by adding approximately ten new events to the agenda (Carlos 1). Unlike the modern Olympics, there were fewer events, women were barred from participating, and the games were always held in Olympia. to move to different sites. The winners would be rewarded with a simple olive branch, cut with a gold-handled knife, from a wild olive tree, as well as being known as heroes for putting their hometown on the map (Library Advanced Org. [LAO] , 1). Although the exact number of spectators who attended the Olympics is unknown, the bleachers of the Olympic stadium were built to accommodate forty-five to fifty thousand spectators. As the games grew, royalty began competing for personal gain, primarily in chariot events. Humans and gods were glorified as many victors erected statues around the arena to deify themselves (Carlos 1,2). The pentathlon was added in 70...... middle of paper ......tto of Citius Altius -Fortius, words translating from Latin to “Faster-Higher-Stronger” (Kristy 12).Bibliography:Anderson, Dave. The history of the Olympics. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1996. Australian Sports Commission. Olympic Facts: History of the Ancient Olympics.Homepage. 14 March 1999. *http://.ausport.gov.au/anc.html*.Carlos, John. History: the ancient Olympics. Home page. March 14, 1999.*http://www.johncarlos.com/ancient.html*.FHW. Welcome to the Hellenic World Foundation. Home page. December 4, 1998.*http://www.fhw.gr/projects/olympics/classical games.html*.Kristy, Davida. The Coubertein Olympics: How the Games Began. Minneapolis: LernerPublications Company, 1995.LAO. The ancient Olympics. Home page. March 3, 1999.*http://library.advanced.org/17709/sports/olympics.htm*.