Within Greek society the Olympic Games were an important aspect to Greek culture. The games were a sacred truce that gave leaders and Kings all over Greece the opportunity to meet unarmed, and became an important place for political decisions and trade. It also enhanced the feeling of unity amongst the Greeks, along with the language and religion.

Olympia is connected to many gods and myths, and there are many different versions regarding how the Olympics started. The most accepted myth is this was where Zeus struggled with his father Cronus, finally beating him and seizing the throne. As a memory of his victory, Zeus made the games. Another myth tells us that it was the five brothers that brought up Zeus on Crete started them. They raced in Olympia, and the oldest brother Heracles crowned the winner with an olive wreath.

In order to compete in the Olympic Games, an athlete or competitor had to be a free, unpunished Greek and he had to have trained for the games in his home for ten months and for one month in Olympia. Men and women were both allowed to compete in the games.

From the year 472 the games were held during five days instead of the original one. On the first day the competitors would register, take a sacred oath that they had trained for then months and that they would respect the rules. On this day there was a competition between the heralds. On the second day the horse races and Pentathlon were held. On the third day the track races took place. On the fourth there was wrestling, boxing and Pancrateon. On the fifth day the prizes were handed out, with celebrations following.

Slaves and women, especially married ones, were strictly forbidden to watch the games, and if a woman was caught as a spectator, she was immediately thrown off Mt. Typaeon. Barbarians were allowed to watch, but not compete. If an athlete was caught cheating, perhaps through bribing or poisoning, he was forced to finance a statue of Zeus where his and his family’s name...