How does the Olympic Games in ancient Greece

For all the Greek cities of the special envoys traveled. They appeared in the urban areas of Athens and Sparta, they were seen in the Greek cities of Asia Minor and the blooming shores of the Black Sea, inhabited by Greeks. Wherever they appeared ambassadors, huge crowds of people listening to them with a festive, joyful excitement.

As reported, these ambassadors of the Greeks, who were greeted with such joy and impatience? They reported on the day of the upcoming great festival - the famous Olympic games. The Olympic Games were held in honor of the supreme Greek god Zeus every four years. It was a Pan-Hellenic festival.

But not only on the day of the games told the ambassadors in the areas of Greek cities. They proclaimed the conditions of the sacred world, which was declared during the festivities. Any military action, wherever they may occur, immediately stop. On violators of this condition shall be imposed a heavy fine. For all tribes and nations taking part in the festivities, country, where the sanctuary of Zeus - is sacred and inviolable. Anyone who offends the traveler, traveling to the Olympic festival, is also subject to a curse and a fine.

And now, from all sides stretched in Elis (region in ancient Greece, where there was Olympia) solemn delegations and embassies. Ionian Sea and the wide mouth of the river Alpheus filled with festive retracted ships arrived here from numerous Greek colonies along the shores of Asia, Africa, Italy and Sicily. On all the roads in Greece people hurried to the festival in Olympia. Some rode on horseback or in carriages, but most people just went on foot. While the festivities took part and attended only by men, it is still measured by the number of visitors to many thousands. Olympic Stadium, where there was running and other gymnastic exercises, could accommodate 40,000 people and was always full. On the bank of the river Alpheus during the festivities grew a city of tents and huts. Along the highway fences and walls were built wooden huts, there was a brisk trade in a wide variety of subjects.

The traveler caught in Olympia after long days of travel, stunned by the noise of the crowd of thousands, filling the sacred grove and attractions: temples, altars, stadium, racecourses. Not yet started the game, he hastens to see these sights. Here is a sacred grove Altis, where there are bronze statues of victors at the Olympic Games. Here is the altar of Zeus, where at this moment preparing to sacrifice. To fit the altar in solemn procession. At its head officials of Elis in white robes, embroidered with gold, with waving purple ribbons. They are followed by members of the mission, accomplishing the sacrifice. Close the procession of servants bearing the gifts of the gods and customized sacrificial animals. And here is the famous Echo Hall, where you can hear the walls of every word is repeated seven times. Here, finally, the main attraction of the grove - the Temple of Zeus with his statue, sculptured the greatest Greek sculptors - Phidias.

With the excitement of the traveler climbs the stairs of the temple, and he sees is right in front of this great work of art. The huge statue is 14 meters high. Zeus is depicted sitting on the trail of cedar wood, decorated with precious stones and carvings. The face, chest and arms of the statue - made of ivory, the eyes - of precious stones. The head is surmounted by a statue of a golden wreath, made like a wreath of olive leaves, hair and beard - made of pure gold.

"On his right arm - said the Greek writer Pausanias, who has been with his own eyes to see this famous monument of art - a statue of the goddess of Victory, also made of ivory and gold, it keeps the bandage, and upon her head, laid a wreath. In the left hand of god is a scepter, all kinds of finished metals and topped with an eagle. Gold also made shoes god, and his cloak studded with images of different shapes and colors of lilies. "

Yes, that's why this statue was the pride and glory of all the Greeks, who could not see the Olympic Zeus felt miserable!

Begins the first day of games. It offers competitions in the race. Even before the dawn of the audience take their seats, crowding on the slopes of the hills. At sunrise there was the sound tube. Referees, and competition in the purple robes cross the entire field in front of thousands of spectators and occupy special seats reserved for them near the start. Around them sit, officials and priests, representatives of the various Greek states, heads of embassies and delegations. But then again, a loud sound tube. In the arena there is a herald. "Competing in the race - go!" - He cries.

One of the judges is competing at a time, and the herald loudly announces the name and place of birth of each. Then he asks, does not challenge anyone from attending their civil character.

The fact that participate in the Olympics would only those who satisfy certain requirements. The games did not have the right to participate slaves, barbarians, and the people who have been punished by the courts. All participants in events must have been a year in advance to make their names in the lists, which were conducted by officials.

One by one the members take the oath of competitions, among them many famous people, representatives of noble families, members of the previous Olympic Games.

But here's the formalities over, the participants go into a special events building, where they remove their clothes and rubbed with oil. Then they draw lots from a silver urn. In the simple race involving 20 people. They are divided into five groups. Again, hear the sound of trumpets, and the first group of four men started up in running. The winner of this race assign to the place where the judges sit. All five groups are running one after another. Then start the main race - compete with each race winners of each group. Whoever won this race, received the title of chief olimpioniki, and his name was called the whole Olympics.

Besides the main race, there was still a double and a longer run, when the contestants had to run around the stadium two, six, and sometimes even twelve times. Has been running with a weapon, but it is usually put off by the end of games. It consisted in the fact that it was necessary to double-run around the stadium in full armor.

After a run fight begins. There are several types of combat: the easiest of them lay in the fact that the opponents came out against each other with their bare hands. The winner is the one who consume three times his opponent to the ground. In the fist fight wrestlers wore a bronze cap on his head, and fists wrapped leather straps with metal cones. It was a very violent form of struggle, ending often serious injuries. There is another kind of struggle, which was a combination of combat fist fight. Only in this case were forbidden to wrap their fists belts.

Ends the first day of competition, falls warm southern night, satisfied audiences diverge, illuminating torches Beach Althea Altis and the sacred grove. The next day begins with the pentathlon competition. It includes, besides running and fighting, discus throwing, javelin and jumping. Compete in jumping ascend to the particular mound, in the hands of their pear-shaped weight. Here they are pulling your hands forward with weights - jump! - Hands quickly dropped back, the body rushes forward in a jump. Again the heralds proclaim the name of the winner. Then he starts throwing the disc. Discus Thrower arranged one after another. They take in hand a heavy bronze disc is rotated several times with his hand in the air, and to preserve the balance is slightly tilted upper body forward and rest your left hand on right knee, then throw in a moment of elastic straighten the body, and the disc, which was started skilful hand, with a whistle cuts through the air.

Pentathlon ends up throwing the spear, which is not simply throw as far forward, but we must get into the roll of a goal. It has been a purely military exercise.

The last day is dedicated to gaming competitions on the racetrack. The oldest and favorite type of match racing chariots were pulled by four horses. Required twelve times round the post at the start. Often these contests that require great strength and agility, ended in accidents. But what a beautiful spectacle of the chariot racing! Thousands of spectators held their breath. But here is one of the corners of a chariot pulled forward. Rider skill governs the horses, the reins taut as the strings. One, the second car tries to catch up, but to no avail. Already near the end of the road, where did calm the crowd, all shouting and cheering the rider, and when he crosses the last line, the whole crowd of thousands burst into enthusiastic shouts.

After the running chariot races start riding. They have one feature: before approaching the finish line rider should jump off a horse and run beside her, holding the reins in his hands.

Now the race is finished. But this celebration is not complete, there comes one of the most solemn moments - the distribution of awards.

Heralds again solemnly declare winners in individual events. Distribution of awards is the temple of Zeus. Judges have a solemn responsibility on the heads of the winners of a simple wreath of wild olive trees, entwined with white ribbons. The olive tree, from whose branches intertwined wreaths, grows here, according to legend, it was planted by Heracles. This is a simple award is valued by the Greeks more than gold and jewels, she gives it to the owners of eternal glory and honor.

It starts with a solemn procession. Ahead are the judge, then the new olimpioniki in brightly colored robes, with wreaths on their heads in their hands they are holding palm branches. They are surrounded by officials and priests, ambassadors and representatives of the various delegations. They move to the sound of flutes and singing hymns in honor of the legendary founders of the Olympic Hercules and his companion Iolaya. Behind him, adorned with flowers, proudly rides horses - racing participants. The crowd enthusiastically welcomed the winners and scores of their flowers.

The procession approaches the altar of the twelve gods. Here, the winners make thank offerings. Then the procession goes to one of the public buildings, where the citizens of Elis prepared a great feast for olimpioniki and key officials. This feast of feasts and ends in Olympia. But they do not stop for the winners of games - olimpioniki.

Returning to his homeland olimpioniki accompanied by the greatest celebrations. Surrounded by a huge crowd of friends and admirers, he rode into town, dressed in a purple dress, in a chariot drawn by four horses. Sometimes the winner of the chariot to travel even specially crush another city wall. The winner of the Olympic Games remained a lifelong respected man. It is usually exempt from all national duties, assigned a place of honor in the theater and at festivals, erected his statue in a public place, and sometimes even assigned a lifetime pension.

Currently, the Olympic Games have become celebrations of sports. They involve the best athletes in most countries of the world. In contrast to the ancient celebrations that took place in one stadium, the modern Olympic Games do not have permanent capital and are held in different cities and countries.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-17