Panhellenic Games

The Panhellenic Games was a four year cycle of Games, held from 776 BCE until 395 CE, starting in the first year with the Olympic Games.
They all involved Chariot Racing, the Pankration, the Stadion, the Pentathlon, Wrestling and Boxing.

The main events of all four Games were Chariot Racing, Pankration, Stadion, Pentathlon, Wrestling and boxing. However, the Nemean and Isthmian Games also included competitions in art and dance. The athletes were naked, with the exception of the chariot race. The winners only received wreaths, with no material prizes, although they became honoured citizens when they returned to their cities. Entrants had to be Greek, (until Rome conquered Greece), and women were prohibited from participating.
The timing of each Event, permitted all athletes to enter into all Events.

Dates held:
- Every 4 years without interruption from 776 BCE to 393 CE.
The Games were dedicated to Zeus.
The winners received an Olive wreath.
- The Greek Victors sent a message announcing their Win back to their Home Cities and islands by Pigeon.
Location:
- Mount Olympia, Elis, Greece. Roman Province of [[Roman Greece: Athens and the Pelopponese|Achaea]]
- Elis was a sacred Grove dedicated to the Greek God Zeus (Jupiter) where stood the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Who participated?
- When Rome took control of Greece in 146 BCE, the Romans were invited to participate in the Games, as they were considered to be the descendants of the Greeks.
- When Roman Citizenship was extended to the Provinces in the second century CE, competitors from all over the Roman Empire were able to attend the Games.

These were also held every two years, along with the Isthmian Games, the year before and the year after the Olympic Games.
The Nemean Games were held at Nemea in honour of Zeus and Heracles, just after the Summer Solstice.
The winners received a wreath of wild celery leaves.
The Games were later moved to Argos.

These were held every two years, along with the Nemean Games, the year before and the year after the Olympic Games.
The Isthmian Games were held at the Temple to Poseidon, on the Isthmus of Corinth, at Sicyon.
They were held from the sixth century BCE until 395 CE.
The Games were dedicated to the God Poseidon.
The winners received a wreath of pine leaves.

The Pythian Games were started in 586 BCE.
They were held every four years at Delphi, and attended by athletes from all over Greece.
They were held 2 years after the Olympic Games.
The Games were dedicated to the God Apollo.
The winners received a Laurel wreath.
The Athletic Games were the same as the Olympic Games.
Unlike the Olympic Games, the Games also included competitions in art and dance.
The Games were still being continued as late as 424 CE. Unlike the Olympic Games, they were not abolished by Theodosius I in 395 CE.

These were also held every two years, along with the Isthmian Games, the year before and the year after the Olympic Games.
The Nemean Games were held at Nemea in honour of Zeus and Heracles, just after the Summer Solstice.
The winners received a wreath of wild celery leaves.
The Games were later moved to Argos.

These were held every two years, along with the Nemean Games, the year before and the year after the Olympic Games.
The Isthmian Games were held at the Temple to Poseidon, on the Isthmus of Corinth, at Sicyon.
They were held from the sixth century BCE until 395 CE.
The Games were dedicated to the God Poseidon.
The winners received a wreath of pine leaves.

Olympia, Greece