Festivals and Games
Games and festivals were very important in the life of a Greek city. They honoured the gods-which was important, because the Greeks believed that if they displeased the gods, they would be punished-by things like wars, or earthquakes.
A big festival also brought in visitors-worshippers, competitors for a contest, or just tourists-from outside, and showed off the city. It was also important because once the religious ceremonies were ended, the day was a holiday-an exuse for a party and a day off work.
Festival like this could occur many times each year. Most were just important in a particular city, but some were much bigger and more famous. The olympic games was a festival in honour zeus, and was held at olympia-an important shrine of zeus.
They took place every four years and contestants came from all over Greece and even beyond it to compete in the games. There were competitions for runners and jumpers but there were also wrestling contests and chariot races.
Events included races on.One, two and twelve lengths of the track, long jump, and throwing the discus and javelin. The only prize was a crown of laurel leaves, but the Olympic games were the most important ones in Greece, so competition was fierce. The events took place in a special stadium which was part of the shrine of zeus. The track was 192m long (a modern running track is 400m).
Sporst were important because all young greek men had to be able to fight to defend their city, so they all had to be fit and to do military training. Military exercises and training for sports took place on a special training ground.
This was called a gymnasium, but it was not indoors like a modern gym. In most cities, it was just an open space with some trees for shade and a well or fountain so that the athletes had water to wash in.
Later, gymnasia were surrounded by walls, but the training still took place in the open courtyard in the center.
In most cities, only men did athletic training or entered games. At olympia, married woman were not even allowed into the stadium to watch the games. At sparta, girls were expected to do athletic training until they grew up. Woman sometimes did compete but only in special contests. At olympia, there was a smaller festival in honour of the goddess Hera. This include a running race for girls. There are also pictures of women doing some sort of athletic training. They are part of a large mosaic decorating a rich villa in sicily.