And do you know why the Olympic Games are called so - "Olympic"?

Some people ask: "Why are the Olympic Games so called?" They have been known as Olympic for a long time. This name came from ancient Greece. The inhabitants of this country presented mankind with many priceless masterpieces of fine art, literature, sculpture and architecture. Do not forget about such a legacy of Hellas as the basis of democracy and philosophy. One of the most valuable gifts for world culture was the Olympic movement.

Why are the Olympic Games called "Olympic"?

There is an erroneous opinion that the name of these sports was given by Mount Olympus, located in the north of Greece. In this place, as the ancient legends say, the gods dwelt. However, in fact, these sports competitions were held in ancient Olympia, located in the western part of the Peloponnesian peninsula. Initially, they were part of a religious cult dedicated to the supreme god Zeus. So, answering the question: "Why are the Olympic Games so-called - Olympic?" - we can say that the name gave them the area - Olympia, in which they were held.

By the way, around this time in Ancient Greece were held and some other competitions - the Nemean, Isthmian games, the famous Pythian games. These competitions were held in the respective localities and dedicated to various gods. However, the most prestigious were the Olympic ones, the victories for them were for sportsmen and policies, which they represented, are extremely honorable.

The first Olympiad took place in the distant, hidden time of 776 BC. E. And the latter was carried out in 394 BC. E. It should be noted that sport, gymnastics, various competitions in ancient Greece were given a lot of attention. A total of 293 Olympiads took place here. Information about the Olympic Games is in the works of famous ancient authors, among which you can name Herodotus, Lucian, Plutarch, Simonides, Pindar, etc.

A little more about the Olympics

However, in response to a question about why the Olympic Games are so called - "Olympic" - not one point. Sports competitions were dedicated to the gods, chief among them was Zeus the Thunderer. Numerous memorial and religious buildings were erected in their honor. An example is the famous temple of Zeus, built in Olympia. The main decoration of this building was the sculpture of the supreme god, which is one of the famous 7 wonders of the world.

Not the least role in the choice for competitions of this particular terrain was played by the landscape. Here was a natural amphitheater, spread out right in the wooded slopes. In Olympia it was possible to sail by ship, therefore among the competitors there were many "nonresident" Greeks, who won and took awards to their policies, popularizing the Olympic movement.

During these competitions, a truce was declared, wars, if they occurred between policies, for a time ceased.

Curious to know

There are interesting information about the Olympic Games:

1. The Olympic flame lights up in Olympia, and not on the mythical Olympus, as many people think.
2. What is the name of the code of Olympic laws? This is the Olympic Charter.
3. There is no separate mountain Olympus in sunny Greece. But in this country there is a whole mountain range with this name. The same name is in Greece National Park.

Our days

In the late nineteenth century, inspired by ancient sports festivals, the famous French figure Pierre Coubertin proposed recreating such competitions. Special doubts about the "name" did not arise, which is why the Olympic Games are so-called "Olympic". The first competitions were held in 1896. Currently, every two years there is another Olympiad (summer or winter).