The Olympic Athlete

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not on national teams,
as in the modern Games. The emphasis on individual athletic achievement through
public competition was related to the Greek ideal of excellence, called "arete".
Aristocratic men who attained this ideal, through their outstanding words or
deeds, won permanent glory and fame. Those who failed to measure up to this code
feared public shame and disgrace.
Olympia was one of the oldest religious centers in the ancient Greek
world. Since athletic contests were one way that the ancient Greeks honored
their gods, it was logical to hold a recurring athletic competition at the site
of a major temple. Also, Olympia is convenient geographically to reach by ship,
which was a major concern for the Greeks. Athletes and spectators traveled from
Greek colonies as far away as modern-day Spain, the Black Sea, or Egypt.
Athletics were a key part of education in ancient Greece. Many Greeks
believed that developing the body was equally important as improving the mind
for overall ...

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