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Although we associate the Olympic Games with sport, the Games of Ancient Greece were primarily a religious festival in honour of Zeus. Legend has it that the Games were founded by Heracles, who planted an olive tree from which the winners’ garlands were made.
The first Olympics were held in 776BC with just one event – a footrace of about 200yds called the Stadion, giving us the word ‘stadium’. Games were held every four years, with the period of time between two meetings being known as an Olympiad.
So seriously did the Greeks take the Games that a truce was declared and strictly observed during each Olympics. Even during the Peloponnesian Wars, enemies mingled and competed side-by-side during the event. The truce was only broken once, by Sparta, who were banned from the 420BC Games as a punishment.
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