Welcome to my Oikos! very early in Greek history was established the link between religious festivals and competitive sporting events. These were held in sanctuaries far and near both outside and within the principle polis.

Literature offers references to some of the great sporting events of the ancient Greek world. The celebrated olympics introduced by Heracles in 776 BC; the Pythian games,

held in Delphi in honor of Apollo; the Delian, and Nemean in honor of Zeus and the games in honor of Hercules labors.

The Issthmian games, held in the santuary of Posidon on the Corinthian isthmus, and the Panathenean games part of the festivities to honor Athens and Athena. Any departure from fair play was severely punished, and the only prize besides the symbolic laurel wreath was the glory of being the winner. This reflected on the people and the city-state and thus honored all of Greece.