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The Olympic Games of Ancient Greece

 

The Ancient Olympic games soon became a national event that took place in a time period over three months, always during the summer and every four years (in2greece). With national recognition the Olympic games became a huge center of cultural influence between the various Greek city-states. "Not only did each city in this way assert its individuality, but the competitors did the same with equal emphasis. The competitors were eager to excel, to thrust themselves forward, to display to all Greece their personal superiority. They strove with persistent toil to attain perfection of mind and body and to wrest the prize from rivals like themselves, who had submitted to the same training for the same object .
             (Rostovtzeff, pg. 106 )." .
             The omniscient sacred truce of peace provided by the Olympics gave the kings and leaders from all over Greece an opportunity to meet unarmed (in2greece). Olympia was not only the location of the event, but also a significant place for political discussions and a center for cultural exchange (in2greece). The feeling of comradery and equality that was present throughout the games enhanced the feeling of unity among the Greeks. This unity was felt in language and religion. Language found commonalities and definitions from city-states various cultures that eventually developed into one solidified national language. Religious customs and beliefs were spread and exchanged among the citizens enriching and preserving their history and Greek mythology that is still read today. Not only was Olympia a place of excitement from the entertainment of competition, but it also served as a huge forum for meeting and political discussion among all the city-states established throughout Greece (in2greece). .
             There are many different accounts of the mythology that led to the establishment of Olympia, but the most credited one is that Zeus battled with his father Cronus here and finally beat him leading to Zeus seizing the throne (in2greece).


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