Ancient Olympiads
A Glossary of Events
Sidebar to: When the Games Began
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.
pentathlon competition of five events: discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling and a stadion race. (The discus, javelin and long jump were only contested as part of the pentathlon, not separately.)
pancratium combination of boxing, kicking and wrestling—like modern Thai kick-boxing.
tethrippon four-horse chariot race.
synoris two-horse chariot race.
apene mule-cart race.
calpe a race for mares.
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