Pentathlon

This was a complex competition that combined two categories: light events, that involved the one-stadion footrace, jump and javelin throw, as well as heavy events, which included discus throw and wrestling. Both the stadion footrace and wrestling were separate events, while the jump, javelin and discus throw were only held as pentathlon events. It was introduced into the 18th Olympiad in 708 BC.

The order of the events remains unclear, but it is most likely that the footrace or discus throwing were held first, while wrestling was last. The athlete who won three of the five events, one of which was unquestionably wrestling, was chosen as victor. The Pentathlon events were accompanied by the music of the aulos. A pentathlete failed to meet the performance of special athletes in individual events, but was unrivalled in his overall execution. He embodied the ancient athletic ideal, as he combined harmoniously vigour, agility, speed, stamina, dexterity and grace.