Ancient Olympic Games

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

I found in interesting article about the more ancient olympic games and these are the quotes that really struck a cord with me regarding how those ancient games were conducted. The article is read HERE.

What I found of interest is that even in the ancient games there were those of dishonest personalities that cheated, bribed and other such things to give them the edge and we find that and a bit more even today in all sporting activities. What I found of great interest and would really like to see returned to the modern olympic games are the repercussions when participants were caught, such as when caught cheating, i.e., “Dishonest wrestlers rubbed themselves with olive oil so they could slide from their opponent’s grasp. Bribing judges or even fellow competitors were other documented methods of cheating. Those caught were publicly whipped and fined, and their shame was immortalized on inscribed statues lining the route athletes walked to enter the stadium.”

Honestly, there would be a need to create so many statues to line the route of athletes that the march would probably need to start weeks in advance just to pass all those cheaters caught over the past olympic games. 

The one aspect I would love the world to adhere to universally is the one where peace is declared for a period before, during the games and after where the entire population of the world, every society and every culture/belief system would have a truce of ultimate peace, i.e., three months before, during the entire games and for three months after the ending of the games total and complete peace in the world - wouldn’t that be awesome?

I would add this, that each society with all its cultures and beliefs systems would take the same oath that all conflict at all levels and all violence at all levels, including crimes, etc., both social and asocial, would be stopped in a truce like peace for the same duration as that of the world. Now that would be awesome, all of us participate directly or indirectly with peaceful games and events in support of the games - Awesome!

Hey, let the games begin (just like suggested)!

The quotes I liked in the article the most:

“The practice of warfare in the ancient world inspired many Olympic events.”

“What the Greeks called ‘heavy’ events were also closely connected to combat. Boxing, wrestling, and a combination of the two called pankration all rewarded strength and tactical cunning. Boxers wore thin gloves made of leather thongs and fought on the open ground, which made it impossible to corner an opponent and extended the length of fights. If a bout dragged on for hours, the boxers could agree to exchange undefended blows—a pugilistic equivalent of sudden death.”

“The pankration, a freestyle brawling and wrestling contest, allowed everything except biting and gouging.”