Olympics

Time Period: Games started at Olympia in 776 B.C.

Description: As the city-states in Greece became larger and more separate, the people wanted ways for them to declare superiority over each other. Thus the Olympics were started. Before, Olympia was a location for honoring the god Zeus, but as the Olympics grew in popularity, they were used as a way to assert power and influence on humans by Zeus. This is because Greeks believed that the gods honored and championed winners. It was also a good way to keep men healthy and fit.

How it was played: 1. Station Race; runners would run up one length of the stadium to see who could cross the finish line first.

2. Boxing; fought without rounds until the other man was knocked out or admitted defeat. Instead of gloves, boxers would wrap their hands and wrists in leather thongs that left their fingers free.

3. Chariot Racing; There were both 2-horse chariot and 4-horse chariot races, with separate races for those drawn by foals. A race consisted of 12 laps around the track.

4. Riding; A race consisted of 6 laps around the track on horseback. Jockeys rode without stirrups.

5. Pankration; Pankration was a grueling combination of boxing and wrestling. Punches were allowed, and fighters did not wrap their hands. Only biting and gouging an opponent's eyes, nose, or mouth with fingernails was forbidden.