Ancient Olympic Games

Timeline

1. -776–-600Olympia · PeloponneseAccording to tradition, the first Olympic Games were held at Olympia with the sprint as the sole event; thereafter the Greek world dated years by the Olympiad cycle.
2. c. -600–-338Olympia · PeloponneseEvents expanded to the pentathlon, wrestling, boxing, and chariot racing; a sacred truce guaranteed the safety of athletes traveling from all city-states, and Olympia became the religious and athletic center of all Greece.
3. c. -338–1Olympia · PeloponneseUnder Macedonian and Roman rule the games were still held regularly, with more professional athletes and royal patronage; the Olympic spirit continued to symbolize cultural unity in the Greek world under empire.