In Greek antiquity, athletic festivals under the name of "Olympic games", named in imitation of the original
Olympic games at
Olympia, were held in various places all over the Greek world. Some of these are only known to us by inscriptions and coins; but others, as the Olympic festival at
Antioch, obtained great celebrity. After these Olympic festivals had been established in several places, the great Olympic festival itself was sometimes designated in inscriptions by the addition of
Pisa.
Alexandria. In later times[clarification needed], the number of Alexandrian conquerors in the great Olympic Games in
Elis was greater than from any other state.
Antioch at Daphne, a small place 40
stadia from Antioch, where there was a large sacred grove watered by many fountains. The festival was originally called
Daphnea, and was sacred to
Apollo and
Artemis, but was called Olympia after the inhabitants of Antioch had purchased from the Eleans, in 44 AD, the privilege of celebrating Olympic games. It was not, however, regularly celebrated as an Olympic festival until the time of the emperor
Commodus. It commenced on the first day of the month
Hyperberetaeus, with which the year of Antioch began. It was under the presidency of an
Alytarches. Its celebration was abolished by
Justin I in 521 AD. The writings of
Libanius, and of
Chrysostom, the Christian Father, who lived many years at Antioch, gave various particulars respecting this festival.
Athens. There were two festivals of the name of Olympia celebrated at Athens, one of which was in existence in the time of
Pindar, who celebrates the ancestors of the Athenian
Timodemus as conquerors in it, and perhaps much earlier (Schol. ad Thuc. i. 126). It was celebrated to the honour of Zeus, in the spring, between the
Great Dionysia and
Bendidia (see
Bendis). The other Olympic festival at Athens was instituted by
Hadrian in 131 AD; from which time a new Olympic era commenced.
Attalia in
Pamphylia. This festival is only known to us by coins.
Nicopolis in Epirus.
Augustus, after his victory (νίκη) over
Mark Antony, off
Actium, founded Nicopolis, and instituted games to be celebrated every five years in commemoration of the event. These games are sometimes called Olympic, but more frequently bear the name of
Actia. They were sacred to Apollo, and were under the care of the
Lacedaemonians (Spartans).
Olympus on the boundary between Thessaly and Macedonia.
Smyrna.
Pausanias mentions an
Agon of the Smyrnaeans, which Corsini[clarification needed] (Diss. Agon. i. 12. p. 20) supposes to be an Olympic festival. The Marmor Oxoniense expressly mentions Olympia at Smyrna, and it also occurs in inscriptions.
In Greek antiquity, athletic festivals under the name of "Olympic games", named in imitation of the original
Olympic games at
Olympia, were held in various places all over the Greek world. Some of these are only known to us by inscriptions and coins; but others, as the Olympic festival at
Antioch, obtained great celebrity. After these Olympic festivals had been established in several places, the great Olympic festival itself was sometimes designated in inscriptions by the addition of
Pisa.
Alexandria. In later times[clarification needed], the number of Alexandrian conquerors in the great Olympic Games in
Elis was greater than from any other state.
Antioch at Daphne, a small place 40
stadia from Antioch, where there was a large sacred grove watered by many fountains. The festival was originally called
Daphnea, and was sacred to
Apollo and
Artemis, but was called Olympia after the inhabitants of Antioch had purchased from the Eleans, in 44 AD, the privilege of celebrating Olympic games. It was not, however, regularly celebrated as an Olympic festival until the time of the emperor
Commodus. It commenced on the first day of the month
Hyperberetaeus, with which the year of Antioch began. It was under the presidency of an
Alytarches. Its celebration was abolished by
Justin I in 521 AD. The writings of
Libanius, and of
Chrysostom, the Christian Father, who lived many years at Antioch, gave various particulars respecting this festival.
Athens. There were two festivals of the name of Olympia celebrated at Athens, one of which was in existence in the time of
Pindar, who celebrates the ancestors of the Athenian
Timodemus as conquerors in it, and perhaps much earlier (Schol. ad Thuc. i. 126). It was celebrated to the honour of Zeus, in the spring, between the
Great Dionysia and
Bendidia (see
Bendis). The other Olympic festival at Athens was instituted by
Hadrian in 131 AD; from which time a new Olympic era commenced.
Attalia in
Pamphylia. This festival is only known to us by coins.
Nicopolis in Epirus.
Augustus, after his victory (νίκη) over
Mark Antony, off
Actium, founded Nicopolis, and instituted games to be celebrated every five years in commemoration of the event. These games are sometimes called Olympic, but more frequently bear the name of
Actia. They were sacred to Apollo, and were under the care of the
Lacedaemonians (Spartans).
Olympus on the boundary between Thessaly and Macedonia.
Smyrna.
Pausanias mentions an
Agon of the Smyrnaeans, which Corsini[clarification needed] (Diss. Agon. i. 12. p. 20) supposes to be an Olympic festival. The Marmor Oxoniense expressly mentions Olympia at Smyrna, and it also occurs in inscriptions.