Ancient Greek Olympic festivals

In ancient Greece there were many places athletic events based on the Olympic Games.

Some are known only by inscriptions or coins, but others, such as the Olympic festival at Antioch were famous in their time.

After several of these festivals had been established, the ancient Olympic Games were provided in inscriptions several times with the addition of Pisa.

  • Aegae in Macedonia. This festival existed at the time of Alexander the Great.
  • Anazarbos in Cilicia, introduced late in games.
  • Attaleia in Pamphylia. This contest is only transmitted through coins.
  • Antioch on the Orontes. Located in Daphne, a small town, 40 stages of Antioch. There was a great holy watered by many fountains grove. The festival was originally called Daphnea Apollo and Artemis and dedicated, but was renamed the Olympic Games after the Antioch had AD for the privilege to call the games olympic paid in the year 44. However, it was not held on a regular basis as Olympic Festival. It started on the first day of the month Hyperberetaios. It was chaired by a Alytarches. The celebration was abolished by Justin I. 521 AD. The writings of Libanius and John Chrysostom contain different information about the periods of holding of these Games.
  • Dion in Macedonia. These games were founded by Archelaus I. and lasted nine days, according to the number of the nine Muses. Euripides wrote there the drama The Bacchae and Archelaus, which were also listed there. They were celebrated with great splendor of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great.
  • Cyzicus in Mysia.
  • Cyrene in Libya.
  • Neapolis in Italy.
  • Nicopolis, at the fest Aktia in honor of Apollo, this games were also commemorating the victory over Mark Antony at Actium in 31 BC
  • Olympus, in the mountains between Thessaloniki and Macedonia.
  • Pergamum in Mysia.
  • Side in Pamphylia.
  • Tarsus in Cilicia.
  • Tegea in Arcadia.
  • Thessaloniki in Macedonia.
  • Thyatira in Lydia.
  • Tralles in Lydia.

See also

Panhellenic Games

Source

  • This article contains public domain text from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities by William Smith ( English) at ancientlibrary.com
  • Olympic Games in Ancient
  • Festivals and traditions ( ancient Greece)
Olympia, Greece Pisa, Greece Vergina Antalya Ancient Macedonian calendar Dion, Pieria Archelaus I of Macedon Cyrene, Libya Mount Olympus
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