Olympia, Greece - Origin of the Olympics

Olympia is the site of the ancient Greek Olympics. The original Olympic games occurred every four years with hardly any interruption for nearly 1,200 years - and with a largely unchanged program. Only in the 4th century CE were they finally abolished by the Christian emperor of Rome Theodosius II. The Olympics in ancient Greece were not simply a set of athletic events as we see them today; instead, they were a sort of religious ritual and the games were dedicated to Zeus. Thus, the focal point of Olympia was not the stadium but the Temple of Zeus: the temple was in the center of Olympia while the stadium was off to the side. Image Gallery of Olympia, Greece - Origin of the Olympics...