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Olympia -

It is believed that the first Ancient Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE in Olympia, on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece.

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Olympia -

The Games were held in honor of the god Zeus. They were essentially a religious festival and a huge party. There would be feasts, plenty of alcohol, and even animal sacrifices.

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Ancient marathon -

There was no marathon as such in the Ancient Olympics. Though there was a "long race" called dolichos, or dolichus.

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Ancient marathon -

The actual length of the run is unknown. It is estimated that athletes would run somewhere between 3 and 5 miles (around 4-8 km) around the stadium.

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Apene -

The mule (offspring of a female horse and a male donkey) had its own event in the Ancient Olympics, called apene.

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Apene -

The event, which only took place between 500 and 444 BCE, was essentially a race of mule-drawn carts.

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Pankration -

In 1896, society saw the revival of the Olympics. The Games of the I Olympiad, were the first international Olympic Games held in modern times. Many events of the Ancient Olympics were included, except one: pankration.

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Pankration -

Pankration was brutal in every way. It was essentially an early version of MMA. Athletes would fight, using a combination of striking and grappling techniques, until someone tapped out... or died!

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Pankration -

The rules allowed for everything, except biting, gouging (stabbing the opponent's eye, nose, or mouth with fingers), and hitting the g e n i t a l s.

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Running -

Participants in foot races would essentially wear little to no clothes, which would make the run quite light.

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Running -

Except members of the military. They were expected to run fully equipped with helmet and shield!

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Pentathlon -

The pentathlon was introduced in 708 BCE. All athletes had to compete in the five events.

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Pentathlon -

The events consisted of the long jump, javelin throwing, discus throwing, stadion (running), and wrestling.

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Chariot races -

Four-horse chariot races were introduced in 680 BCE. Participants would race two-wheeled chariots around the stadium track.

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Chariot races -

Over the years, the event underwent different versions. In 384 BCE, the chariots began to be pulled by foals instead of fully-grown horses.

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Chariot races -

Years later, the rules changed again. Participants could now beat (and hurt) other competitors and their horses.

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Women and the Ancient Olympics -

The Ancient Olympics were a male-only competition, and women were not allowed to compete. Women had their own separate festival, the Heraean Games (Heraia).

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Women and the Ancient Olympics -

But that was before a Spartan princess named Kyniska, or Cynisca (pictured) entered—and won—the chariot races in 396 BCE, and then again in 392 BCE.

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Women and the Ancient Olympics -

Kyniska's achievement was so huge that she had statues of herself at the Temple of Zeus in Olympia.

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Keles -

But it was not all about chariots. The Ancient Greeks also had a single horse and rider event called keles.

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Keles -

Only mares over one years old were allowed to compete. The event was essentially a trotting race. But in the last lap, the rider would walk alongside the mare.

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Pyx -

Pyx was the Ancient Greek version of boxing. It's thought that it was introduced in 688 BCE.

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Pyx -

The fight would take place in a dirt pit called a skamma, and a referee would be present. The rules were simple: fighters could only punch their opponents until there was a knockout, or someone quit.

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Pyx -

There were no boxing gloves like the ones we have today. Fighters would wrap their hands with thongs of ox hide, and later with thick leather bands.

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Heralds and trumpeters -

There was actually an Olympic competition for heralds and trumpeters, which became officially recognized in 396 BCE.

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Heralds and trumpeters -

They were of utmost importance during the Games. This was before loudspeakers and microphones, so it was a skill to be heard by thousands of people in a stadium!

Sources: (Grunge)

See also: The biggest scandals in Olympic history

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