Ancient Olympic Games

The Ancient Olympic Games were a series of athletic competitions held between the city-states of Ancient Greece. They used to be called the Olympic Games (Greek: Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες; Olympiakoi Agones) until the modern day Olympic Games started. The Ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. They ran until 393 AD.Prizes at the games were olive wreaths, palm branches and woollen ribbons.

Famous athletes

Here are athletes that competed at the Games:

from Athens:

Aurelios Zopyros (Junior boxing)

from Sparta:

Acanthus of Sparta (Running: diaulos)

Chionis of Sparta (Running: stadium, diaulos. Long and Triple Jump)

Cynisca of Sparta (first woman to be listed as an Olympic victor)

from Rhodes:

Diagoras of Rhodes (Boxing 79th Olympiad, 464 BC) and his sons Akusilaos and Damagetos (Boxing and Pankration)

Leonidas of Rhodes (Running: stadium, diaulos and hoplitodromos)

from Croton:

Astylos of Croton (Running: stadium, diaulos and hoplitodromos)

Milo of Croton (wrestling)

Timasitheos of Croton (wrestling)

from other cities:

Koroibos of Elis (Stadion)

Orsippus of Megara (Runner: diaulos)

Theagenes of Thasos (Pankration)

non-Greek:

Tiberius (steerer of a four-horse chariot)

Nero (steerer of a ten-horse chariot)

Varastades, Prince and future King of Armenia, (last known Ancient Olympic victor (boxing) during the 291st Olympic Games in the fourth century.