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Summary
From the dawn of history, in mythical years, Olympia
was a sacred place. Cronion, the green hill protecting Alty from
northern winds, was named after Cronus, Zeus’ father, who lived
there for many years. Evidence of the worship of Cronus is provided
by the several bronze statuettes found there, today seen in the
museum.
Pilgrims from all over Greece visited Olympia in order
to pay their respect and so Olympia became the first Hellenic sacred
place with unique prestige.
This prestige was maintained through out the life of
the altar (over one thousand years) which was respected as an eternal
symbol of the Greek triumph, taken place there, a triumph of beauty
unifying the human body with the spirit.
Surrounded by the peaceful scenery Greeks established
the “holy truce” as the first peace ever known in history of the
ancient world. During the Olympic games no war was allowed.
Olympia was always a place dedicated to the worship
of gods, while it was under the authority of a nearby town named
Pissa. According to Pafsanias, kings of Sparta and Ilida came to
an agreement with the king of Pissa, Cleosthenis, declaring Olympia
as a holy and unassailable land and establishing truce for the whole
period of the games. The first historical evidence concerning Olympia
is dated back in 776 b.C. on the occasion of the victory of athlete
Coryvos. Ever since that date we have written evidence of the Olympic
games and this is also the official start of the historic age in
Greece. At first, race was the only event of the games, whereas
wrestling, pangration, horse races and chariot races were added
later.
Athletes taking part competed in order to succeed an
honest victory and had no interest in breaking records. Their only
ambition was to be crowned with a wreath, called “cotinos” made
of leaves from the “callistefanos” olive tree, the ancient olive
tree sited outside the Zeus temple. Any athlete wining three consecutive
Olympic games was permitted to have his own statue built outside
Alty.
The glory of the Olympic Games in ancient years, beautifully
praised by poet Pindar, is well known. Trace was announced to the
whole Greek world and for a period of three months there were no
wars and hostilities. As a result, all athletes and pilgrims were
able to travel safely to the altar of Olympia on the occasion of
the event of the Olympic games. The organization of the games as
well as the oversight of the altar were responsibilities resting
in the hands of the locals, called Iliey, who also maintained the
athletic facilities and provided for the servicing of the arriving
visitors.
Women were not allowed to watch the Olympic games with
the exception of the priestess of Demeter Chaminey, who during the
games sat on the altar of the goddess, placed across the jurors.
Participation to the games was only allowed to the
Greek people. Barbarians or slaves were excluded from the events,
as well as everyone else who had either committed a crime or robed
the altar. Umpires of the games were the jurors.
According to sources and conclusions from the archeological
findings, the schedule of the games rolled as follows: The first
day was dedicated to the official ceremony of the opening of the
games and to the enrollment of the athletes who took an oath before
the statue of Orkios Zeus. The second day was dedicated to the juniors’
games, such as race, wrestling and pangration. The third day was
the most important, as two of the most popular events took place;
one was chariot races at the hippodrome and the other was pentathlon
which involves jump, discus, stadium, javelin, boxing and took place
at the stadium. The fourth day was dedicated to the men’s athletics
in race, wrestling, boxing, pangration and hoplite race. On the
fifth and last day of the games there was the crowning of the athletes
and the sacrifices to the gods. The film presents the whole area
of Olympia, the altars of Zeus and Hera, Alty, the athletics shown
painted on the vessels, the magnificent statues of the Victory of
Paionios and Hermes of Praxiteles, as well as personal instruments
and tools of the great sculptor Pheidias, whose workshop was found
in Olympia.
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