Greek Olympics

Prior to the opening ceremonies of each festival, messengers were dispatched to the far corners of the Mediterranean and Asia Minor to announce the coming of the games. Only free citizens of Greek blood were allowed to participate but 'barbarians' and slaves were allowed to view the festivities from the grandstands. Interestingly, unmarried women were allowed to watch but married women could not. Penalties for disobedience of these rules were harsh; violators could sometimes face …

…they often constitute very important sources for various versions of mythology. They usually began with praise for the person whom they honored and then proceeded to give mythological examples that served to enhance the glory of their victories. Mythological references were often made to heroes coming from the winner's country of origin, serving to glorify the winning towns in addition to their athletes. They often ended with a short prayer for the victor's continued prosperity.