Olympia was Greek a sanctuary site located in the western Peloponnese dedicated to one of the most important Greek deities, Zeus. The cultural significance of Olympia was far-reaching, being a place of great significance to the Greeks for generations and modern society today.

Modern Olympic Games are the continuation of the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia between 776 BCE to 393 CE. In the beginning, the games were just a local festival honoring the god Zeus. They soon became so popular that the entire Greek world united to hold the games every four years. This didn’t happen overnight, however — it took centuries for the games to become so established in Greek culture.

The city-states of Greece would send their finest men to take part in games, just like every country in the world today sends their best men and women to the modern Olympic Games. The difference is that the ancient Olympic Games were also a religious event: they were held to honor the god Zeus. Today’s Olympic Games, in contrast, are secular. Another difference is that the ancient Olympic Games were exclusively at one site, while today, they are held all around the world.

The ancient world, especially in ancient Greece, valued the physical prowess of men. Spartan warriors were famous for their tough military training and incomparable physical strength and resilience. The games, in this sense, were highly compatible with the Greek warrior-like culture. Men were eager to prove their mettle and cities were proud of their achievements. The Olympic Games were the manifestation of the Greek culture and in many ways encompassed its values. The Roman empire may have been the fiercest war machine of antiquity, but its men were still not as strong and physically capable as their Greek peers. The Roman empire also had games, but the Olympic Games had become an important part of the culture hundreds of years before the Romans held gladiatorial games and events.

The ancient Olympic Games lasted a short five days, but the participants would arrive months before to train. Wrestling matches, chariot and horse racing, disc and javelin throwing, long jump, and running were all part of the highly-anticipated event. The games would start after the high priestess of Olympia lit the Olympic flame. The temples of Zeus and Hera were all crowded during the event as offerings and ceremonies were held to ask favor from the gods.

The ancient Olympics had several very interesting elements. For one, the Olympic competitors performed in the nude and only males were allowed to participate and spectate. The only woman allowed to witness the games was the high priestess of the temple of Demeter. Another interesting aspect was that spectators sat in the open ground or on the surrounding mountains to watch the games, instead of a dedicated seating area.

The event was more than just a religious event or sports activity. In fact, it served many purposes, being an important part of Greek diplomacy, trade, and business. Even wars would stop for a few days during the event, as both sides sent in their best men to participate. Heads of the states or envoys would also gather during the games and important diplomatic developments took place at the site. Even business and trade dealings took place during the event as people from all over Greece gathered together.

In 393 AD, Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I banned the Olympic Games in an effort to Christianize the region. As the Latin and Greek worlds changed, practices that honored pagan gods gradually fell away. Theodosius I prohibited the games and they remained lost to history until quite recently. The modern Olympic Games started in 1896 and have since been held in different parts of the world. Today’s Olympics do not carry on the Greek legacy in religious terms, but they do carry on in the spirit of the ancient athletic event.