The crowd cheered as they watch the athletes competed. It was the ancient Olympic games. The ancient games began in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC. It consisted of a series of athletic events where various cities of ancient Greece competed with one another for prizes. Unlike the modern Olympics, the prizes were olive wreaths, palm branches and woolen ribbons. The ancient games was one of two important rituals of ancient Greece. They were dedicated to the gods of the ancient greeks.

ORIGINS OF THE GAMES
No one knows exactly how the games started as its origin was surrounded with mythology. One myth said that the games was a ritual where offerings were made to an Olympian king called Pelop. Another myth said that Heracles, the son of Zeus who won a race in Olympia decreed that the game should be held every four years. Yet another said that the games was a result of an advice by the Pythia Oracle at Delphi to King Iphitos of Elis.

DURATION OF THE GAMES
The ancient games like today's were held every four years. The period between the two games was called Olympiad. Olympiad actually means a period of four years. The ancient historian Ephorus was said to be the one who originated the use of term to count years.

EVENTS OF THE GAMES
Originally, there was only one kind of competition which was 190 meters stadion race. The word stadium is derived from the name of this race. Later, other events were added to the games which include the diaulos, a 400 meters race in 724 BC. Four years later athletic nudity was introduced to the games. At the same time, the dolichos race was introduced. In 520 BC, the last event, the hoplitodromos or "Hoplite race" was introduced. The people also competed for the control of the Sanctuary that housed the gods of the ancient Greeks. As the years passed by, more events were added which included wrestling, boxing, pankration (ancient Greek marital art), chariot racing, javelin, discus, and long jump.

THE VICTORY CEREMONIES
The victory ceremonies of the ancient games was not like the ones we have at the modern Olympics. Immediately after the competition, the winner received his first awards in an unofficial ceremony. The ceremonies was conducted in the following order. The herald announces the name of the victor.

While the spectators were cheering and throwing flowers at him, the Hellanodikis, a greek judge placed a branch palm in the winner's hands. His head was also tied with red ribbons to show that he was the winner.

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