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The origin of the Olympic Games is linked with many
myths referred to in ancient sources, but in the historic years their founder
is said to be Oxylos whose descendant Ifitos later rejuvenated the games.
According to tradition, the Olympic Games began in 776 B.C. when Ifitos
made a treaty with Lycourgos the king and famous legislator of Sparta and
Cleisthenes the king of Pissa. The text of the treaty was written on a disc
and kept in the Heraion
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In this treaty that was the decisive event for the
developement of the sanctuary as a Panhellenic centre, the "sacred
truce" was agreed. That is to say the ceasing of fighting in all of
the Greek world for as long as the Olympic Games were on.
As a reward for the victors, the cotinus, which was a wreath made from a
branch of wild olive tree that was growing next to the opisthodomus of the
temple of Zeus in the sacred Altis, was established after an order of the
Delphi Oracle.
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The Olympics were held, after the completion of
four years during the month of July or August. The time inbetween two Olympic
Games was called an Olympiad. In the beginning the games lasted only one
day and comprised of only one event, the running of one Stadion, but gradually
more events were added resulting, towards the 5th century B.C., in the games
lasting for 5 days.
In total the Olympic Games consisted of 10 events : running, the pentathlon,
jumping, discus, "ekebolon" javelin, wrestling, boxing, the pancration,
chariot racing, and horse racing.
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The athletes presented themselves one month before
the games began at Elis, the organising town, but the organisation and supervision
for the upholding of the rules was carried out by the Hellanodikes, who
were chosen by lot from the citizens of Elis.
Two days after the beginning of the games, the procession of the athletes
and the judges started from Elis to arrive in Olympia where it was received
by the crowds who had come to watch the games.
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