Feel festive, but without all the chemicals
It is believed that the first Ancient Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE in Olympia, on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece.
The Games were held in honor of the god Zeus. They were essentially a religious festival and a huge party. There would be feasts, plenty of alcohol, and even animal sacrifices.
Only mares over one years old were allowed to compete. The event was essentially a trotting race. But in the last lap, the rider would walk alongside the mare.
Participants in foot races would essentially wear little to no clothes, which would make the run quite light.
There was no marathon as such in the Ancient Olympics. Though there was a "long race" called dolichos, or dolichus.
Except members of the military. They were expected to run fully equipped with helmet and shield!
But it was not all about chariots. The Ancient Greeks also had a single horse and rider event called keles.
The actual length of the run is unknown. It is estimated that athletes would run somewhere between 3 and 5 miles (around 4-8 km) around the stadium.
The pentathlon was introduced in 708 BCE. All athletes had to compete in the five events.
The event, which only took place between 500 and 444 BCE, was essentially a race of mule-drawn carts.
The mule (offspring of a female horse and a male donkey) had its own event in the Ancient Olympics, called apene.
The events consisted of the long jump, javelin throwing, discus throwing, stadion (running), and wrestling.
In 1896, society saw the revival of the Olympics. The Games of the I Olympiad, were the first international Olympic Games held in modern times. Many events of the Ancient Olympics were included, except one: pankration.
There was actually an Olympic competition for heralds and trumpeters, which became officially recognized in 396 BCE.
They were of utmost importance during the Games. This was before loudspeakers and microphones, so it was a skill to be heard by thousands of people in a stadium!
Sources: (Grunge)
See also: The biggest scandals in Olympic history
Four-horse chariot races were introduced in 680 BCE. Participants would race two-wheeled chariots around the stadium track.
There were no boxing gloves like the ones we have today. Fighters would wrap their hands with thongs of ox hide, and later with thick leather bands.
Over the years, the event underwent different versions. In 384 BCE, the chariots began to be pulled by foals instead of fully-grown horses.
The fight would take place in a dirt pit called a skamma, and a referee would be present. The rules were simple: fighters could only punch their opponents until there was a knockout, or someone quit.
But that was before a Spartan princess named Kyniska, or Cynisca (pictured) entered—and won—the chariot races in 396 BCE, and then again in 392 BCE.
The Ancient Olympics were a male-only competition, and women were not allowed to compete. Women had their own separate festival, the Heraean Games (Heraia).
Kyniska's achievement was so huge that she had statues of herself at the Temple of Zeus in Olympia.
Years later, the rules changed again. Participants could now beat (and hurt) other competitors and their horses.
Pankration was brutal in every way. It was essentially an early version of MMA. Athletes would fight, using a combination of striking and grappling techniques, until someone tapped out... or died!
The rules allowed for everything, except biting, gouging (stabbing the opponent's eye, nose, or mouth with fingers), and hitting the g e n i t a l s.
Pyx was the Ancient Greek version of boxing. It's thought that it was introduced in 688 BCE.
Before the Modern Olympics—the international event as we know it today—there were the Ancient Olympics. This was, however, a very different kind of event. Not only was it more of a religious festival, but it also had a lot less sporting events, some of which died out completely over the years. Can you imagine chariot races in today's Olympic Games, for instance?
Click through the following gallery and discover the games played at the Ancient Olympics.
The surprising games played at the Ancient Olympics
Did you know the ancient Greeks had an early version of MMA?
LIFESTYLE Olympics
Before the Modern Olympics—the international event as we know it today—there were the Ancient Olympics. This was, however, a very different kind of event. Not only was it more of a religious festival, but it also had a lot less sporting events, some of which died out completely over the years. Can you imagine chariot races in today's Olympic Games, for instance?
Click through the following gallery and discover the games played at the Ancient Olympics.