The pankration in Ancient Olympic Games / Traveling to Ancient of Greece.

The Pankration event was a combination of boxing and wrestling which required both skill and strength. Only biting and eye-gouging were forbidden and these rules were strictly enforced by judges. However, the fact that so few moves were forbidden meant that many dangerous forms of attack were permitted such as neck holds, kicking and strangling. 19. Chariot Racing Was Associated With The Dead Passing Into Hades Chariot racing bronze relief, copy, via Greek Boston, The funeral games for Patroclus feature chariot racing as the most important event. It was believed that the horses and their chariot symbolized the soul being carried into the Underworld. By the 25th Olympiad in 680 B.C, both two-horse and four-horse chariot racing had been introduced into the ancient Olympic Games. The chariot races were the first events in the Olympic program. 20. The Rider Running Alongside His Horse Event Among the other equestrian events was the unusual unabated, or the ‘dismounted-event’, race in which the rider ran the whole race alongside his horse. It is likely that this race had military origins. There were also a variety of mounted races at the ancient Olympic Games. Riders rode without saddles or stirrups, critical accidents and even deaths were common. 21. Olive Wreaths Were Awarded To Winners At The Ancient Greek Olympics Golden victory wreath, via The History BlogThe wreaths given to victors at the ancient Olympics, were all made from the leaves of a sacred olive tree at Olympia. This tree was called kotinos kallistephanos, meaning ‘the olive beautiful for its crowns’. 22. Victors In The Ancient Olympics Received A Variety Of Prizes And Honours Athletes who won their event while the Olympic festival was still in progress were allowed to wear ribbons of white wool tied around their arms, legs and head. In later years, palm branches were also distributed to winners. Those athletes who had sufficient financial means or were supported by someone who did were allowed to erect a statue of themselves in the sacred Altis grove at Olympia. 23. Some Honours For Ancient Olympic Victors Lasted A Lifetime Greek drinking cup depicting a feast, via National GeographicWinners at the ancient Olympics were also given free food and a seat in the Prytaneion at Olympia for life. The Prytaneion was an administrative building and the main hub for the organisers of the festival. It was also believed to be where the sacred flame of Hestia was housed. This flame had to be kept burning at all times and was used to light other flames all around Olympia. 24. Great Feasts Were Held For The Olympic Victors At the end of the ancient Olympic Games, huge feasts were held for the winners. Members of their training team, families and supporters were all allowed to attend. We know of one particular feast held in honour of the athlete Empedocles of Agrigentum. Empedocles, a follower of Pythagoras and therefore a vegetarian, had a giant ox made out of spiced bread and divided it among the spectators. 25. The Final Ancient Greek Olympics Were Held In The AD 380s British Museum model, showing how the site of Olympia looked in ca 100 BCIt is believed that by the end of the 4th century AD, the Olympic Games festivals had fallen out of favour. The site at Olympia gradually deteriorated after numerous enemy invasions from the likes of the Vandals and Visigoths. The rise of Christianity was also a factor in the decline of the Games. Pagan festivals, such as those held at Olympia, were no longer culturally and religiously relevant. 26. Baron De Coubertin Revived The Olympic Games In 1896 Portrait of Baron de Coubertin, via The ConversationThe site at Olympia, was not officially re-discovered until 1875 by a group of German archaeologists. A French aristocrat, Pierre de Fredi, Baron de Coubertin, was inspired by this discovery and believed that the competitive element of the ancient Olympic Games should be revived. After gaining the permission of King George I of Greece, the first modern Olympic Games were launched in Athens on 6th April 1896. 27. The Logo of the Olympic Games Still Used Today Was Created by the Baron The Olympic Games symbol of five interlocking rings we still use today, known as the ‘Olympic Rings’, was a creation of Baron de Coubertin. Created in 1913 to represent the five continents of the world. It was first used in the Summer Olympics of 1920 in Antwerp,