Archaeology Odyssey

In his Description of Greece, the second-century A.D. traveler Pausanias tells of a second festival held at Olympia, called the Heraia.

Leonidas of Rhodes (stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos): 12 victories in four festivals from 164 B.C. to 152 B.C.

Herodoros of Megara (competition for heralds): 10 victories in ten festivals from 328 B.C. to 292 B.C.

Hermogenes of Xanthos (stadion, diaulos, hoplitodromos): 8? victories in three festivals from 81 to 89 A.D. (the Olympic Register is somewhat unclear).

During the span of 1,200 years, from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D., only 23 events were contested as a part of the festival at Olympia. They fall into four categories: men’s competitions (8 events), boys’ competitions (5 events), equestrian races (8 events), and specialty competitions for trumpeters and heralds (2 events). These 23 events were not introduced all at once but gradually over time. Following is a list of what events were added when, according to the Olympic Register:

stadion 600-foot sprint, one length of the racecourse.

diaulos 1,200-foot sprint, two lengths of the racecourse.

dolichos distance race of 2-3 miles, 16-24 lengths of the racecourse.

hoplitodromos race in which the men wore armor.