Olympic Events
The ancient Olympic games lasted in Greece for approximately 1,200 years. During this time there were only 23 events which the athletes competed in. At first the only Olympic events were running competitions however, over time the events grew in intensity. The Olympic events became increasingly violent and fierce. Lack of rules and rule enforcement contributed to the brutality of the Olympic events in ancient Greece.
The following chart displays Olympic events and when they were introduced:
The following chart displays Olympic events and when they were introduced:
Olympiad*1
14 15 18 23 25 33 38 38 41 65 70 71 93 96 99 128 131 145 |
year776 BC
724 BC 720 BC 708 BC 688 BC 680 BC 648 BC 632 BC 628 BC 616 BC 520 BC 500 BC 496 BC 408 BC 396 BC 384 BC 268 BC 256 BC 200 BC |
EventStadion *Olympiad refers to the number of Olympic games
Diaulos Dolichos Wrestling & Pentathlon Boxing Tethrippon Pankration & Horse race Stadion and wrestling for boys Pentathlon for boys (discontinued same year) Boxing for boys Hoplitodromos Apene (mule cart race) (discontinued 444 BC) Calpe (race for mares) Synoris (two horse chariot race) Competitions for heralds and trumpeters Chariot racing for teams of 4 colts Chariot racing for teams of 2 colts Races for colts Pankration for boys |
Violence in Events
Running Events
Stadion
The stadion was a 200 yard sprint.
Diaulos
Was a double stadion race. The race was 200 yards in one direction and then the athletes had to run around one post and run back another 200 yards.
Dolichos
Translates to "long race". The dolichos was the longest running race in the ancient Olympics, measuring about 3 miles in length.
Hoplitodromos
Was a race ran with at least of 50 pounds of armor on. The race was about 350-400 meters in length.
Running events were the first events added to the ancient Olympic games. These racing events took place on a packed dirt surface. Since the Olympics took place during the summer, the tracks were dry and dusty. When many athletes would run across the dusty surface large clouds of dirt would form creating the perfect environment for cheating. Tripping, pushing and kicking are a few examples of violent, abusive cheating methods used in running races. Also if a runner were to fall during a race, he would definitely be trampled on by the other runners. The trampling could result in serious injury and even death. Running events first took place in the nude and eventually evolved to wearing armor and carrying shields and weapons. The introduction of armor races created a strong impression of soldiers and battle preparation. War has connotations of power, violence and death. Cheating and trampling are a warlike resemblance that contribute to why running events were considered violent during the ancient Olympic games.
Stadion
The stadion was a 200 yard sprint.
Diaulos
Was a double stadion race. The race was 200 yards in one direction and then the athletes had to run around one post and run back another 200 yards.
Dolichos
Translates to "long race". The dolichos was the longest running race in the ancient Olympics, measuring about 3 miles in length.
Hoplitodromos
Was a race ran with at least of 50 pounds of armor on. The race was about 350-400 meters in length.
Running events were the first events added to the ancient Olympic games. These racing events took place on a packed dirt surface. Since the Olympics took place during the summer, the tracks were dry and dusty. When many athletes would run across the dusty surface large clouds of dirt would form creating the perfect environment for cheating. Tripping, pushing and kicking are a few examples of violent, abusive cheating methods used in running races. Also if a runner were to fall during a race, he would definitely be trampled on by the other runners. The trampling could result in serious injury and even death. Running events first took place in the nude and eventually evolved to wearing armor and carrying shields and weapons. The introduction of armor races created a strong impression of soldiers and battle preparation. War has connotations of power, violence and death. Cheating and trampling are a warlike resemblance that contribute to why running events were considered violent during the ancient Olympic games.
Combat Events
Wrestling
Wresting was perhaps one of the Greeks favourite sports. Wresting was comprised of various leverages and holds. The only rules were no sticking the opponent, and eventually no finger breaking. Basically everything else was legal including; breaking other body limbs, neck holds and strangle holds. A wrestling competition was won once one athlete had thrown their opponent to the ground 3 separate times.
Boxing
Boxing was an Olympic event that was more violent than wrestling. Boxing also had few rules which were; no wrestling holds, no gouging the opponents eyes with your fingers and boxers were not allowed to wear rings. Everything else was permitted in a boxing match. Olympic boxing matches were only won when an athlete gave up, was incapacitated or dead. In boxing athletes used himantes which were thongs used to protect their knuckles. Then the sphairai was introduced to boxing. The sphairia was similar to the himantes however there was an additional paddle on the inside and the outside of the tong. This new equipment made the athletes fists rigid and hard.
Pankration
The pankration was a combination of wrestling and boxing. The pankration was perhaps the most brutal combat event out of the 3 because there were even less rules than a wrestling or boxing match. The only rules in this event were no biting or gouging of the eyes everything else was permitted.
All of the combat events were a brutal display of violence. The athletes were ruthless and lethal. There were very little rules put in place, allowing competitors to basically perform any maneuver under the sun. In all of the combat events, there were no time restrictions (allowing for long, brutal combats) and there were no weight classes (allowing for unequal matching of athletes). Also if the judge decided to make a call agianst any of the few rules listed above then he would strike the misbehaving athlete with a switch. Even the judging calls were violent actions in the ancient Olympic games.
Wrestling
Wresting was perhaps one of the Greeks favourite sports. Wresting was comprised of various leverages and holds. The only rules were no sticking the opponent, and eventually no finger breaking. Basically everything else was legal including; breaking other body limbs, neck holds and strangle holds. A wrestling competition was won once one athlete had thrown their opponent to the ground 3 separate times.
Boxing
Boxing was an Olympic event that was more violent than wrestling. Boxing also had few rules which were; no wrestling holds, no gouging the opponents eyes with your fingers and boxers were not allowed to wear rings. Everything else was permitted in a boxing match. Olympic boxing matches were only won when an athlete gave up, was incapacitated or dead. In boxing athletes used himantes which were thongs used to protect their knuckles. Then the sphairai was introduced to boxing. The sphairia was similar to the himantes however there was an additional paddle on the inside and the outside of the tong. This new equipment made the athletes fists rigid and hard.
Pankration
The pankration was a combination of wrestling and boxing. The pankration was perhaps the most brutal combat event out of the 3 because there were even less rules than a wrestling or boxing match. The only rules in this event were no biting or gouging of the eyes everything else was permitted.
All of the combat events were a brutal display of violence. The athletes were ruthless and lethal. There were very little rules put in place, allowing competitors to basically perform any maneuver under the sun. In all of the combat events, there were no time restrictions (allowing for long, brutal combats) and there were no weight classes (allowing for unequal matching of athletes). Also if the judge decided to make a call agianst any of the few rules listed above then he would strike the misbehaving athlete with a switch. Even the judging calls were violent actions in the ancient Olympic games.
Chariot Racing
Tethrippon Calpe
4 horse chariot race. A race for mares.
Apene Synoris
A mule cart race. 2 horse chariot race. Chariot racing for teams of 4 colts
Chariot racing for teams of 2 colts
Races for colts
Chariot racing was a lesser prestigious event which took place during the ancient Olympic games. A consistent theme of violence can also be seen in the chariot races. Carts would bump and crash, sometimes on purpose. It was very easy for riders to fall from their chariot because there was no safety devices put in place to protect the riders. Falling from a chariot during one one the races was extremely dangerous for the rider. The rider would be trampled by horses and run over by chariots, the fallen rider would be lucky if they survived.
Tethrippon Calpe
4 horse chariot race. A race for mares.
Apene Synoris
A mule cart race. 2 horse chariot race. Chariot racing for teams of 4 colts
Chariot racing for teams of 2 colts
Races for colts
Chariot racing was a lesser prestigious event which took place during the ancient Olympic games. A consistent theme of violence can also be seen in the chariot races. Carts would bump and crash, sometimes on purpose. It was very easy for riders to fall from their chariot because there was no safety devices put in place to protect the riders. Falling from a chariot during one one the races was extremely dangerous for the rider. The rider would be trampled by horses and run over by chariots, the fallen rider would be lucky if they survived.