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Origin & History
The javelin was introduced into the ancient games as apart of the pentathlon which was made up of five events: running, long jump, discuss, wrestling, and javelin. It was introduced into the games on the 18th Olympiad in 708 BC.

Rules
There were two sections, one where the javelin was thrown for distance (ekebolon) and another where it was thrown for accuracy (stockastikon).

The javelin was thrown using a leather strap called a amentum and competitors were allowed five attempts each, with the longest throw counting. They were all performed nakes

Previous Victor
Asklepiades of Corinth won the pentathlon in the 255th Olympiad.

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Sophocles is one of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived to this day. He is said to have written over 120 plays however only 3 have survived in complete form. He was the most celebrated playwright in competitions in Athens during the Dionysia and Lenaea festivals. He competed in 30 competitions, won 24, and never scored lower than 2nd place, much better than his two counterparts Aeschylus who only won 13 competitions and Euripides who only won 4. He was born in 497/496 BC and died at age 90-92 in 406/405 BC.

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They were initiations held by the cult of Demeter and Persephone at Eleusis. They were based off an old Agrian cult based around the Mycenaean period. They represented the kidnapping of Persephone by Hades. There are three stages to the ceremonies called the descent, the search and the ascent.

The rebirth of Persephone for many symbolized the eternal life flowing through people.

Due to the ceremonies involving visions and the conjuring of an afterlife some historians believe it was linked to psychedelic.

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this festival was large in ancient Athens in honor of the god dionysus. the purpose was to celebrate and perform theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies and comedies. It was the second most important festival after the Panathenaia. this festival was participated by the ancient Athenians because it was held in that city.

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What benefits do you think the people of Athens derived from this festival?

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What benefits do you think the people of Athens derived from this festival?

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The festival largely celebrated and featured theatrical plays such as comedies and tragedies. This enabled playwrights and writers creative freedom to write and perform. As well as that, the Athenians largely partook in this event out of tradition which thus carried the said tradition through the ages. This preservation of culture helped historians later uncover motives and attitudes at the time.

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Demise.
It eventually fell due to the rise of Christianity throughout Europe, when the leaders of it lost prestige and influence, then multiple of their temples got sacked and they didn't have enough power to keep the cult going

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The Dionysia was a large festival in ancient Athens honouring the god Dionysus. The main events were theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies, the second most important festival after the Panathenaia. It consisted of two separate festivals taking place at different parts of the year, the City of Dionysia and the Rural Dionysia.

The City of Dionysia was held from 10th to the 16th of the month of Elaphebolion, which is the lunar month straddling the vernal equinox (March to April in the solar calendar). It occurred three months after the rural Dionysia, most likely to celebrate the harvesting of the year's crops and the end of winter.

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The festivities were observed regularly from c. 1600 BCE - 392 CE.

For future reference rite is a religious or other solemn ceremony or act.

The Greater Mysteries at Eleusis was celebrated annually in the month of Boedromion (September–October). It included a ritual bath in the sea, three days of fasting, and completion of the still-mysterious central rite. These acts completed the initiation, and the initiate was promised benefits of some kind in the afterlife.

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Are there festivals or events today which could be compared to them?

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Are there festivals or events today which could be compared to them?

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The Athens Festival is an example of a similar festival that occurs today. A sub-section of the festival itself is the Epidaurus Festival where performances are held every Friday and Saturday, from early July to mid-August every year. The Little Theatre of Epidaurus (capacity of 2,000) currently hosts plays and performances during the event. Originally, it was used for religious ceremonies to worship Dionysus.

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This is a votive plaque that shows the elements of the Eleusinian Mysteries. It was found in the sanctuary at Eleusis (mid-4th century).

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View over the excavation site towards Eleusis and the Saronic Gulf.

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View over the excavation site towards Eleusis and the Saronic Gulf.

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The Islamic pilgrimage could be compared this involves them travelling to Mecca. Praying, running up a corridor and other things. This was to strengthen their relationship with Allah.

This is similar to the Eleusinian mysteries in that they felt closer to their god.

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In the 200 yard sprint, or as it was known back then, the stadion, was the first event done at the Olympics. From 776 to 724 BCE, it was event done at the Olympics. The race began with a trumpet blow, and there was officials at the end to assure the were was no cheating. It was also traditional to do this 🤬 naked. the race usually consisted of 20 men

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Origin:
In 688 BC, boxing became an Olympic event and in 616 BC, it was  extended to boys (younger kids).
Rules:
The rules for boxing forbade holds on the opponent (this is wrestling) and blows to the male organs.
History:
The earliest representations date from the Minoan and Mycenaean period.
Previous Victor:
Melankomas of Caria was crowned Olympic boxing champion in 49 B.C, and was a winner in many other events.

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Origins
Chariot racing is known to have existed during the Mycenean Age - pottery depicting the art has been dated back then. In writing, it was first referenced by Homer, at the funeral games of Patroclus.
History
There were two types of races: the two horse chariot and the four horse chariot. It was first added in 680 BC and to accommodate the addition, the Games were extended from one day to two days.
The owner and driver of the chariot were usually different people.
Rules
The charioteers, unlike other sports, did not race in the nude. This was because of the dust kicked up during races and the high chance of bloody crashing.
4-6 chariots would race at a time, typically doing 7 laps around the hippodrome.
Drivers were allowed to hit and ram each other.
Previous Winner
It is unknown who the previous winner was.

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The discus was one of the five events in the pentathlon .

Home mentioned it in his poems.
It was said to display an athletes inner strength and motor control.

RULES
The discus was originally made of stone but later bronze or iron. They were 17 to 35 cm and weighed between 1.3 to 6.6 kg. This is 0.5 kg above the weight of a normal discus. Different locations used different weights.

The aim was to throw the discus as far as you could.

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The armed foot race was afoot race that consisted of people wearing full armour whilst running the race.

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ancient Greek wrestling was the most popular organized sport in ancient Greece. A point was scored when a player touched the ground with his back, hip or shoulder, or conceding defeat due to a submission/hold or was forced out of the wrestling area. you had to score 3 points to win the match. you cant hit or kick your opponents and you cant grasp the opponents genitals. if you disobey the rules then the ref will whip u until you follow the rules again. wrestling was the first non-running event to be addded into the olympic gMES and was added in 708BC. these competitions where held in an elimination-tournament style until there was a winner. the wresteling took plce in a square arena. This event was part of the pentathlon. Wrestling was regarded as the best expression of strength out of all of the competitions and was represented in Greek mythology.  milo of croton was one of the most famous wrestlers, At one set of games, no one challenged him becasue no one wanted to fight him

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Rules
This event depicted in the original Greek Olympic games which was a event where the two contestants would fight using any means necessary. some techniques used include striking, grappling and wrestling. this sport had virtually no rules and winning was to bet your opponent in brute strength.
Origins
This event was introduces to the games around the year 648 BCE.

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The armour that was on the runners while they raced made it much more difficult for them to run fast.

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Aeschylus was most famous for writing tragedy.
The Persians.
This play draws from Aeschylus' real life experience at the battle of Salamis. It is fairy unique in that it is about a recent event. The play focuses on hubris by telling how the Persians loss was based on their kings pride. Characters include Atossa, Xerxes mother and the ghost of his father Darius.

Seven against Thebes.
The characters Eteocles and Polynices, the sons of Oedipus the king of Thebes. The sons agree to alternate between ruler but after the first year Eteocles refuses to stand down. The brothers then 🤬 each other in single combat.

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Aeschylus is often described as the father of tragedy.
Only seven of his estimated seventy to ninety plays.

He was probably the first dramatist to present plays as a trilogy. At least one of his plays was inspired by the Persians second invasion of Greece. This is the only surviving classical Greek tragedy that was written at the same as a significant event.
Aeschylus had two sons both of which became tragic poets.

The trilogy known as the Oresteia, consisted of three tragedies, Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides.

During Aeschylus's lifetime, dramatic competitions became part of the City Dionysia in the Spring.

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Euripedes' plays have been adapted multiple times, into many short films and feature films around the world. some notable examples are;

-A short film adaptation of The Baccae, titled The Baccae, written and directed by Brad May, which was a hit in LA and drew in big audiences and good reviews.

-A 1962 American Drama feature film adaptation of Hippolytus, called Phaedra, directed and written by Jules Dassin. It was successful in Europe but it was a failure in America.

-A 1977 Greek film adaptation of  Iphigenia at Aulis called Iphigenia, directed and written by  Michael Cacoyannis. It was nominated for one Oscar - Best Foreign Language Film, It won a greek film awards and a best film award at a film festival, where the female lead won best leading actress for her role as Iphigenia.

Also,
a 1969 spaghetti western adaptation of Orestes, titled The Forgotten Pistolero

a 1971 American-British-Greek drama adaptation of The Trojan Women, tilted The Trojan Women

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The death of Aeschylus was a unbelievable and ironic death. After completing the Orestean trilogy he moved to Sicily Italy. while he was there he had a prophesy that he would die to a falling object, therefore he spent his time outdoors (because he may have thought he would be hit by a roof).
He was ironically killed by a falling object as a tortoise dropped by a eal

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Euripides is the most influential tragedian ever. At the Dionysus Festival in Athens he won five times. Tragicomedy and psychological. Euripides is most well known for his tragedies of Medea, Bacchae, Hippolytus and Alcestis. He died in Macedonia but his legacy will forever be remembered. He is known to be "the philosopher of the stage". Euripides was an influence on Sophocles, Socrates and many other Greek tragedies.

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Medea- the plot of Medea was that a wife desired for revenge on her un- faithful husband.  Medea was an enchantress who helped Jason who was the leader of the Argonauts, to obtain the Golden Fleece from her father, King Aeetes of Colchis. She was of divine descent and had the gift of prophecy. She then married Jason and used her magic powers and advice to help him.  the play was set in corinth. characters in madea are madea, nurse, tutor, aegus, creon, jason, mes sanger and the chorus is corinthian women. jason and the aranoughts is the myth associated with euripides. this play was premiered in  431 BC and has been played ever since and has been adapted into modern times. euripeds wrote 90 plays but only 19 plays survived through manuscripts

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Only seven tragedies have survived
The Persians
Seven against Thebes
The Suppliants
The Oresteia
Agammemnon
The Libation Bearers.
The Euminides
Prometheus bound.
All these plays are said to have won prizes at the city of Dionysia.

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Sophocles was famous for writing plays such as Ajax, Antigone, Oedipus Rex, Electra, and Women of Trachis.

Many of his plays (such as Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus), tell the tales of the Oedipus from different perspectives and time periods within the tale. Oedipus was a king from Thebes who killed his father and married his mother.
The story goes that when he was born, his mother and father planned to 🤬 him as he would fulfill a prophecy. The prophecy was that Oedipus would grow up to 🤬 his father and marry his mother. To save Oedipus, a servant stole Oedipus and give him to a childless couple. Oedipus grew up not knowing he was adopted. Later, when Oedipus is older, he meets a man on the street and fights him. The man turns out to be Oedipus's father, and both of the two men, not knowing who each other are, fight. Oedipus kills his father (but still doesn't know it). He later becomes ruler of Thebes after solving the riddle of the sphinx. After becoming king, he marries the Queen who is is mother. When the truth comes out,  his mother kills herself and Oedipus goes into exile.

The play discusses fatalism and the influence of prophecies.

Below is an image of antigone in front of the dead Polyneices by Nikiforos Lyrtas (1865)

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Sophocles was one of the greatest ancient Greek playwrights and is reflected in the number of competitions he won during his time.
This would have had a great impact on ancient Greek theatre, developing his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwright Aeschylus, progressing ancient Greek theatre.
The themes explored in his play reinforced the social beliefs in society such as belief in the gods.

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There have been many modern adaptations of Sophocles works such as a 1961 Greek film adaptation of his play Antigone. Similar works include three modern adaptations of his Oedipus Rex play such as the 1967 and 1957 film by the same name and the 1968 film Oedipus the king.