The Olympics
Around 776 B.C., the Olympics were started as a sacred festival to the gods (idols) that were worshiped in Greece. They were held at Elis, in a place called 'Olympia'. They were athletic games and only pureblooded Greeks were allowed to participate in the games. Greece was not really united as a nation, but, the Olympics brought the Greeks together. Warring tribes would even stop fighting during the time of this festival because it was considered sacred.
This festival lasted for a week and was quite impressive. On the first day, a colorful processional would take place. It was made up of all the parties of the states. Then they would make a sacrifice to Zeus. They had to screen all the participants to make sure that their diet was proper and they had the correct training. There would be running and wrestling competitions on the second day. Also boxing, chariot races, and the pentathlon took place. A pentathlon was a competition of five events. The four-horse chariot race was the last event of the day.
On the fifth day, the victors were chosen. A boy would take a golden knife and cut branches from an olive tree. Wreathes were made from these branches and the winners would receive them. A herald would call out the victor's name, his father's name, and the name of the city that he was from. Then the victor would take the crown and make a sacrifice to Zeus. The victor was given great honor at home for the rest of his life.
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