GreekOlympicGamesThetempleofHerainOlympia,Elis,GreeceOnceeveryfouryears,menfromalloverGreececametocompeteinagreatathleticfestivalinElis,inwesternGreece(Womenwerenotallowedtocompete).ThiswascalledtheOlympicgamesbecausetheplacewascalledOlympia.ItwasareligiousfestivaltohonortheGreekgodsZeusandHera.Wedon'tknowwhenmenfirstbegancelebratingtheOlympicGames,buttheywerecertainlyalreadydoingitinthetimeofHomer,by776BC.Andtheywerecelebratedfromthenon,everyfouryearswithoutfail,untilpeopleconvertedtoChristianityandtheRomanEmperorTheodosiusbannedthegamesin393AD.That'smorethanathousandyears!Thegamesweresoregularthatpeopleusedthemtodateby.Theywouldsay,Iwasborninthesecondyearofthetwenty-fourthOlympiad(startingfrom776BC).Canyoufigureoutwhatyearthatwouldbeinourreckoning?Whenitwastimeforthegames,therulersofElissentoutmessengersallover用心爱心专心GreeceandtotheGreekcoloniesaroundtheBlackSeaandtheMediterranean.TheydeclaredatrucethroughouttheGreekworldforamonth.Nomatterwhoyouhadawarwith,youhadtostopthewarandlettheirathletesandperformersgothroughyourcity-statesafelytogettotheOlympicGames.Eachcity-statepaidforafewathletesfromtheircitytotraveltoElis.Butifyouhadeverbeenaslave,orifyouhadeverdoneanythingagainstthegods,thenyoucouldn'tbeintheOlympics.And,themenhadtoswearthattheyhadalreadytrainedforatleasttenmonths.ThismeantthatonlymenwhowereprettyrichcouldbeintheGames,sotheycouldaffordtotakesolongoffwork,andalsopayatrainer.用心爱心专心
