Other Panhellenic Festivals

The Olympic Games were the first, but not the only Panhellenic festival to be held in ancient Greece. In 586 BC, the Pythian Games were established at Delphi, followed by the Isthmian Games in 582 and the Nemean Games in 573. Together, these four contests formed an athletic circuit known as the periodos, literally "the road around".

The Olympic Games and the Pythian Games were held every four years, and the Isthmian and Nemean Games were held every two years. However, the Isthmian Games were held in April, and the Nemean Games were held in late July, so that they never conflicted. Below is an example of how the periodos worked.

The Pythian Games

The Pythian Games were held in the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and celebrated the god's victory over the monster Python. The Pythian Games were originally an artistic, rather than an athletic celebration. Contests included singing, lyre playing, flute playing, and dramatic performances. After the First Sacred War, Delphi was liberated from the control of the city-state of Krisa by the Amphyctionic League. The Amphyctions then reorganized the festival and added athletic contests to the program of the festival. These games were the same as at Olympia, with the exception of the four-horse chariot race and the boys' competitions. As at Olympia, victors were not given monetary prizes. At Delphi they were given a wreath of laurel or bay leaves.

The Isthmian Games

The Isthmian games were held in the sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia. They probably began as a celebration of the new order of Corinth after the demise of the Kypselid tyranny. They were thought to have been originated by the mythical Corinthian king Sisyphos or the mythical Athenian king Theseus as funeral games for the hero Melikertes. As at Olympia, this festival was primarily athletic in nature. However, later musical and dramatic competitions were added. The Isthmian Games were controlled throughout their history by the city-state of Corinth. Victors in the Isthmian Games were given a wreath of pine, and later one of wild celery.

The Nemean Games

The Nemean Games were held in the sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea. As at Olympia, two foundation myths are told to explain the origin of the games. The first is that Herakles established the games after disposing of the Nemean lion. The second is that they were begun as the funeral games of the child Opheltes. Originally, the games were controlled by the city-state of Kleonai, but they were later taken over by Argos. As at Olympia, this festival was primarily athletic in nature. Victors in the Nemean games were given a wreath of wild celery.

Other Panhellenic Games

Other athletic festivals not on the periodos attracted competitors from all over the Greek world. Among these were the Delian Games on the Cycladic island of Delos, and the Panathenaic Games in the city-state of Athens. However, while victory in these competitions still held honor, the four major Panhellenic Games carried much more prestige.