| There are many stories on how the Olympic Games | | | | compete. Women were barred from competing and |
| started in ancient Greece. One story unfolds that it | | | | only maidens were allowed to attend the Games. To |
| was Heracles who first established the Games after | | | | the winners at the Olympic Games, great honor |
| concluding his twelve labors to honor his father, the | | | | came to them from their home villages. Statues were |
| deity Zeus. Another legend tells that it was the | | | | erected in their image and their legend grew in |
| guardians of an infant Zeus who founded the Games | | | | stories. One could say that this is not much different |
| by competing in the first footrace. Or perhaps it was | | | | from today's sporting heros. |
| Zeus himself who created the Olympic Games after | | | | The oldest records of the Olympic Games date back |
| he defeated his father Cronus to become the King | | | | to 776 BC but the Games might have started as |
| of Gods. Whatever the story of how the Olympic | | | | early as 884 BC. The Olympics thrived for many |
| Games originated, one constant is clear: the ancient | | | | centuries and grew in events and participants. |
| Olympic Games were held as a tribute to Zeus. | | | | However, as the Roman Empire's power infiltrated |
| Unlike the modern Olympics, the host city of the | | | | Greece, Emperor Theodosius I outlawed the |
| ancient Olympic Games did not change. It was always | | | | Olympics as a pagan festival in 393 AD. The Olympics |
| held in Olympia, Greece. Olympia is also known for | | | | laid dormant for nearly 1500 years until a French |
| the Temple of Zeus where the ivory and gold statue | | | | historian, Pierre de Coubertin, officially revived the |
| of Zeus can be found. The statue was proclaimed to | | | | Olympics by setting up the International Olympic |
| be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World | | | | Committee to organize the Games. Athens, Greece |
| which again speaks of the importance of the gods in | | | | became the host city of the first modern Olympics in |
| the Greek life and culture. | | | | 1896. In keeping with ancient traditions, the Olympics |
| The Olympics served as a meeting place and festival | | | | are held in four year cycles known as the Olympiad. |
| where every four years, athletes and spectators | | | | However, the host city now changes to spread the |
| would gather to compete and honor the gods. | | | | goodwill and the Olympic spirit to other nations. |
| However, only free Greek men were allowed to | | | | |