The olympics
Once every four years, men from all over Greece came to compete in a great athletic festival in in western Greece (Women were not allowed to compete). This was called the Olympic games because the place was called Olympia. It was a religious festival to honor the Greek gods Zeus and Hera.
Once all the men had arrived, they spent a month practicing and training together in a big palestra, or gym, with a sand floor. They had to follow strict rules. Judges (also all men) watched the men train, and picked out only the best ones to actually complete in the races. The Olympics began with religious sacrifice of pigs and rams to Zeus.
Events of the Ancient Olympics included chariot races, horse riding, running, discus, wrestling, boxing, and long jump. Of course, to show off the achievements of the human body, they competed in all of these events naked! Yikes! This is probably why married women were not allowed to be spectators at the games.
Once all the men had arrived, they spent a month practicing and training together in a big palestra, or gym, with a sand floor. They had to follow strict rules. Judges (also all men) watched the men train, and picked out only the best ones to actually complete in the races. The Olympics began with religious sacrifice of pigs and rams to Zeus.
Events of the Ancient Olympics included chariot races, horse riding, running, discus, wrestling, boxing, and long jump. Of course, to show off the achievements of the human body, they competed in all of these events naked! Yikes! This is probably why married women were not allowed to be spectators at the games.