Explore the rich history and traditions of the ancient Olympic Games. Learn about the origins, events, and famous athletes that made this ancient sporting event legendary.
Pankration was one of the most popular combat sports in ancient Greece. It combined two other popular sports of antiquity, wrestling and boxing, but kicking was allowed as well. The name Pankration derived from the ancient Greek words παν and κράτος, which implied that the winner of the sport was the one who had complete power and control of his foes. The participants were called pankratiasts.
The Olympics, as they exist today, are but a shadow of their former glory. Though there are more activities and participants in the modern games, they do little to entice and arouse the Greek concept of glory and pride that once made them renowned throughout the ancient world.
This edited article about the Olympic Games originally appeared in Look and Learn issue number 758 published on 24th July 1976. The Olympic race in which Greek youths competed for the honour of lighting a sacrificial fire in honour of the Gods by Peter Jackson Although the Games of the 21st Olympiad in Montreal from […]
Olympic Games, quadrennial athletic festival that is often regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition. The ancient Olympic Games included several sports that are now part of the Summer Games program, which includes events in as many as 32 different sports. Learn more about the Olympic Games in this article.