Past Exhibitions

The Olympic Games Past and Present (July-Sept 2024)

Ahead of the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Macquarie University History Museum is proud to showcase our ancient and modern collections in a new display, bringing together objects associated with the modern Olympic Games and ancient Greek sporting activities.

The earliest ancient Olympic Games were held c. 776 BCE, beginning a tradition that lasted approximately 1,200 years. Held every four years in honour of the god Zeus, the ancient games were ‘Panhellenic’ games, open to any male citizen of a Greek city-state (polis), initially in the Peloponnese, but later expanded to anywhere in the ancient Greek world, referred to as Magna Grecia. This was expanded over time to include the Hellenistic kingdoms and the Roman Empire following Rome’s conquest of Greece in 146 BCE. Athlete’s travel to and from the Games was safe-guarded by an Olympic truce (Ekecheiria).

Ancient Olympic events ranged from running events to the elite chariot race, and to the no-holds-barred pankration, a sport akin to today’s mixed martial arts bouts.

Athletes trained regularly in the gymnasion and competed in the Games with the aim of winning glory for themselves and the polis they represented. Winning the olive wreath of Olympic victory (nike) was the pinnacle of aretê (excellence), like winning a gold medal today. Valuable prizes and honours were often bestowed upon them by their city-states, and songs of praise could even be written for them.

The final ancient Games may have taken place in 393 CE, when they were outlawed by the Christian Emperor Theodosius I, although it is possible that they continued into the 5^th century CE.

The desire for Olympic glory, and the ideal of Olympic peace, were revived in the nineteenth century. Numerous efforts struggled to gain traction but in 1896 Athens hosted what is recognised as the first modern Olympic Games. In 1906 athletes officially represented their countries for the first time.

The new, secular Games retain a symbolic link to Olympia through the torch-lighting ceremony and the relay that follows. Cities around the world compete for the right to host the Games which is a source of great national pride.