776 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
The First Olympic Games
On the timeline · around 776 BCE · The Ancient Games
What happened
According to tradition, the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE at Olympia, a sacred sanctuary in the western Peloponnese of Greece. Held every four years in honor of the god Zeus, the games began as a single footrace and drew athletes and spectators from across the Greek world.
Why it matters
The ancient Olympics were the most prestigious of the Greek athletic festivals and one of the great unifying institutions of the Greek world. The four-year cycle of the 'Olympiad' even became a way of counting the years.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Ancient Olympic Games · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Ancient Greece → — The great athletic festival of the Greek world