Abstract
This paper provides a brief overview of the evolution of the ancient Olympic Games and discusses ways in which they likely differ from the assumptions of modern readers. It specifically states the myths about the ancient Olympics and then contrasts them with the realities according to ancient texts and archaeological evidence. The paper further describes the religious significance of the ancient games, showing their relationship to Zeus and the various religious rites that took place. Additionally, the paper describes the criteria for an athlete to be accepted to the games and his reward for winning. The paper concludes by showing how Christianity contributed to the demise of the Olympics in ancient times.

Outline:
Introduction
Myths and Realities
The Site & Timing of the Games
Olympic Events
Religious Rites
Athletes
Awards & Rewards
Conclusion

From the Paper
'Like any ancient topic it is fair to say that conclusive evidence of any generalization is limited and that independent facts meld together to create a more or less completed picture of how events over time changed and developed. In the case of the ancient Olympics the event took place roughly every four years (on the longest day of the year) for more than 1,000 years. It is for this reason that a complet picture of the whole event is not possible but some suppositions are, and the greatest one being that the games, events, locations and nearly everything else, other than the fact that it was a competition changed over time."

Tags:ancient Greece, athletes, religious rites, Zeus, Olympia

Abstract
This paper presents a detailed history of ancient and modern Olympic games. The paper includes details of the creating of the winter Olympics, discusses the origins of the modern Olympics and the people behind the movement and looks at the current state of the Olympics.

Tags:ancient games, modern games, greece, coupertin, IOC, olympic ideals, olympic torch, olympic oath, doping

Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of the ancient and modern Olympic Games that shows how, despite the superficial differences, the events are at heart very similar. It looks at the origin and history of the Olympics.

From the Paper
The Olympics have come to us down through the ages as an example of the purity and beauty of athletics. The Olympic ideal is something that we hear touted in the media and that many young athletes dream about as they embark on their athletic careers ..."

Tags:olympics, history, modern, ancient, games

Abstract
This paper examines how the ancient Greeks determined who would win the pentathlon, a competition of professional athletes who participated in numerous sporting events in Olympia. The author discusses the Olympiad Games, who was allowed to participate, particular events-javelin, discus, wrestling, etc., festivities, and awards presented to victors.

From the Paper
"An event that was intended to show all-round development was the pentathlon. Five events were included in this activity. They were running, long jumping, discus throw, javelin throw, and wrestling. The exact order of events and the precise method of determining a winner are not known. Wrestling is believed to have been the last event and may have decided the winner of the pentathlon if a participant did not have a clear advantage in the first four events. Historians have somewhat been able, with some degree of certainty, to determine how the winner of the pentathlon was actually decided. If a point system had been employed, as in our modern games, there would be no difficulty in crowning a champion; however, no evidence has been produced to support a point system in the Greek pentathlon. With the absence of such a scoring system, we are able only to present some theories and assumptions about the Greek pentathlon."

Tags:emperor, antioch, slaves, hellenistic, demeter, games, discus

Abstract
The paper discusses the various political and social implications of the ancient Roman gladiatorial games. The paper argues that the games were used in the Republic and Empire to pacify the masses and to aggrandize the sponsor. The paper includes an outline.

From the Paper
"Ancient Rome was a warrior state in which violence was endemic. Politics permeated virtually all aspects of civic life, including religious rituals, public athletic competitions, the theater, the circuses where races took place and most compellingly, the arenas where gladiatorial combat occurred. Gladiatorial combat, which pitted two trained fighters, often slaves or condemned criminals, against one another in a fight to the death, dated to Etruscan times. In Rome, such contests were held or financed by..."

Tags:Rome, gladiators, games, politics

Abstract
A complete background of the Gladiator Games is given. This includes the people who fought, the different types of events, the fighters' daily life, where they occurred, along with many other aspects of the games.

From the Paper
"The origins of the gladiatorial games took place in 264 BC in Rome as part of an aristocratic funerary ritual. The first gladiatorial contest was put on by Decimus Junius Bratus, in honor of his deceased father. Three pairs of slaves served as the gladiators in the Forum Boarium, a commercial area named for the Roman cattle market. Romans called the contests a munus, which is a duty, paid by the descendants of the dead (Grant). This served to keep the memory of the deceased alive after their death. The contests were repeated annually or at five-year intervals. The gladiatorial fights were not brought into public games until the late first century."

Tags:rome, fight, ancient, barbaric, death, Decimus, Junius, Bratus, ritual

Abstract
The paper relates that the website "The Real Story of the Ancient Olympic Games" describes how politics, nationalism, commercialism and athletics were related intimately in the ancient Olympic Games and how today's games are surprisingly accurate re-creations of the ancient Olympic Games in relation to climate and circumstances. The author points out that the website "Ancient Olympics Guide" is short on graphics; however, this does not detract in any way from the visual appeal of the site because the lack of graphic fillers allows room for a wealth of scholarly information concerning the ancient and modern Olympic games. The paper relates that the website "The Olympics: The Ancient Olympics" is a very comprehensive website, which provides informational links to the history, origins and events of the ancient Olympics.

From the Paper
"The home page of Tufts University's site "The Ancient Olympics" (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/) has five oblong circles centered on the top half of the page that provides links entitled Ancient and Modern Olympic Sports, A Tour of Ancient Olympia, The Context of the Games and the Olympic Spirit, Athletes' Stories and Frequently Asked Questions. In the center of each circle is an ancient Olympic scene. The bottom half of the home page gives a brief description of the Perseus Project, which in 1996, created this exhibit on the ancient Olympics as a tribute to the Centennial Olympic Games. This exhibit allows one to compare ancient and modern Olympic sports, tour the site of Olympia as it looks today, learn about the context of the Games and the Olympic spirit, or read about the Olympic athletes who were famous in ancient times."

Tags:graphics, links, re-creation, tribute, modern

Abstract
This paper examines the origins and history of the Olympic Games. The original purpose and ideals of the creators have changed with time to what exists today. The influence of sponsorship, religion and politics are examined.

Introduction
The Site of the Games
The Olympic Program in Ancient Greece
Influence on Modern Sports
Athletes, Officials, and Spectators in Modern Sports
The Victors and Rewards in Ancient Greece
The Role of Women in Ancient Greece
The Politics in the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
Politics in Modern Sports
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Researchers assert that, in the 1990s, more athletes and sports personalities than ever before have started to candidly articulate their religious faith in the presence of their adversaries, teammates, admirers, as well as, television cameras. They go down on your knees. They pray. They yell. They revel and position their fingers to the heavens, presenting thanks to the God, who they articulate has given them the bravery and power to contend and succeed in their selected sports. And when their workday is complete and their term is ended, they carry on to spread their religious expressions in the world outside sports, by means of their standing and superstar personality to attract both the juvenile and the old in a similar way into campgrounds, associations, programs, as well as, organizations whose reason is to serve the god."

Tags:history, religion, venue, influence, security, regulations, moral, commercialization

Abstract
In this paper, the author explores the ancient gladiatorial games that took place in Rome. He looks at how the gladiatorial games served Roman society and culture in a variety of ways and the important function they had in the Roman civilization. The paper explains the order of the gladiatorial games and describes the people that took part. The author also examines how Roman society seemed to demand these extreme exhibitions as evidence of their power over chaos, enemies and nature. He mentions how critics of the games did not find fault with the nature of the cruelty to humans, but instead only complained about certain perimeters of the games. In conclusion, the author states that the gladiatorial games were central to politics, religion and culture in Roman civilization, and were a reflection of how Roman society perceived themselves and their world.

From the Paper
"Many of the gladiatorial games were religious celebrations, some of them were called votive games designated to please Roman deities. Religious ceremonies are all distinct and controversial, when perceived from outside of a religion, so it is understandable that many would find this kind of religious ceremony to be nothing more than savagery. Sacrificing humans on the tombs of warriors seems barbarous, but sacrificing animals was a common practice in religions of the time. The Christian religion's central figure of Jesus also demonstrated that sacrificing life was needed to save the world. These examples illustrate the sharp contrast of how people's perception changes through time and what is seen today as savagery was not seen so in times past. Other early writers agreed that the gladiatorial battles did replace the human sacrifice to the spirits of the dead. From this point of view, the gladiatorial games were considerably more humane than just sacrificing human life."

Tags:combat, cruelty, sacrifice, brutal, bloody, savage, amphitheater, prisoner, citizens, justice, society

Abstract
This paper traces the history of the Olympic Games from the first record of the games at Olympia in 776 BC. It looks at how the first Olympic Games were not the games of today that represent a worldwide competition between the best athletes of the world. The ancient Olympic Games were dedicated to the Gods and only involved Greek athletes. It also examines the beginnings of the modern Olympic Games from their inception in France in 1900 and how they have over the years endeared political influences, performance enhancing drugs and the bribery of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).

From the Paper
"The ancient Greek Olympics were held every four years from 776 BC for the next 12 centuries. The ancient games lasted until 393 AD. The Romans had won the wars against the Greeks in 146 BC and were now in control of the Olympics. The games lasted until 393 AD, when the Roman Emperor Theodosius I (Rolfe 14) decided to end the games. The Emperor was incensed that the people were worshipping the gods and he wanted them to worship him. The Romans ruined the Olympic stadium and what was left was destroyed by natural events, such as floods and earthquakes. This was the end of the ancient Greek Olympic games. It would be centuries before the games would be reinstated and they would be different from the ancient games, but the influence of the ancient Greeks would forever be evident in the competitions."

Tags:gods, wars, competition, munich, paris