http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/games/index.htm
Ancient Greek Games
The Greeks have all kinds of games very seriously, but especially physical sporting competition. The Greeks believed that their gods particularly loved to see strong, fit, graceful human body, especially boys and men in the committees. So one way to the side of the gods was the practice to eat right, oil your skin, a beautiful place, the gods love. Based on the Greek tendency to see everything in an agon, a competition, this also means that there are a lot of sports competitions in Greece. The best known of them is the Olympic Games, but there were other games in other places, as well as the Isthmian Games at Corinth.
Young men Discobolos (of the richer families who do not have to work) in most Greek cities spent a large part of their time training for such competitions, and the best of them have been selected to fight the best young men from other towns. Then they would all meet at the Olympic Games or the Isthmian Games or elsewhere, and the competition for prizes and for the favor of the gods. Of course, these games as a good training for the army, because all these men were soldiers. The events were the same kind as at the Olympic Games today: running, jumping, throwing a javelin, discus throw and throw. Only men could compete.
|
