The origins of athletic games reflect man’s daily struggle for survival, his agonizing effort to procure food, secure protection against the threats of nature and confront wild animals and dangerous adversaries.

In their age-old history, the games have been associated with rituals that aimed to propitiate the gods and ensure fertility of land —the tradition of crowning victors with fresh shoots harks back to these rites.

Moreover, they were frequently connected with honours bestowed upon a deceased hero, through funeral games (ἆθλα ἐπιτάφια), thereby denoting in a symbolic manner the transcendence of death, rebirth and the triumph of life.

They took the form of gymnastic display for public enjoyment, intended mainly for the upper classes, with spectacles such as acrobatics, wrestling, boxing, shot-putting, and later impressive horse and chariot races.

They became indispensable part of education, so that young men would become sturdy and fearless protectors of the community.

During the Dark Ages (1100-750 BC), elements of these traditions merged and transformed. In the Archaic period, the agonistic ideal became stronger than ever, and the games were no longer seen merely as an entertaining sporting activity, but as a series of sacred events imbued with a sense of fair play, but also the desire for victory, since supremacy signified the favour of the gods and the glory of the city. Moreover, the games, particularly Panhellenic events, constituted a splendid, valuable link forged between the Greeks.