Cult and Competition

Ancient Greek festivals honoured the gods with sacrifice, procession, and frequently with contests of an athletic nature. While these competitions were watched by hundreds and sometimes thousands of people, especially in the case of Panhellenic festivals, the primary purpose of these contests was not to delight crowds but to honour the gods. Athletics in Ancient Greece were organized within religious frameworks, occurring within a festival honouring a particular god, and often with sacred truces being proclaimed so that contestants and spectators could travel safely to athletic venues. Athletes swore oaths to the gods not to cheat, and prayed to them for victory. Girls could compete in running races in honour of goddesses. Zeus was believed to watch the games of the Olympia festival, and the goddess Nike was represented in art as crowning the successful athlete on behalf of the gods. Sport and cult were inextricably combined in ancient Greece.