The Olympic Games, held in honor of Zeus, were the most prestigious of all athletic festivals in ancient Greece. They were held every four years, from August 6 to September 19, at Olympia, a religious precinct on Elis in the northwest part of the Peloponnese. Apart from the restriction and limitation of boys' events, the Olympic Games were open to all free Greek men who could prove their Hellenistic descent. These men competed in athletic, equestrian and musical events. This sight is dedicated to the exploration of the athletic events at the ancient Olympic Games.

A view of the sanctuary of Zeus from the Southeast.

Please note: all student papers hosted by the Perseus Project are offered "as is." Papers are the work of students: the project does not edit, revise, update, or otherwise endorse the content of these pages. These papers may not be copied or reproduced elsewhere; see our copyright page for more information. Please feel free to link to these materials. We do not retain contact information for the authors.