The next time you watch the extravaganza that is the modern Olympic Games, consider this: It all started with a simple footrace. To history lovers like me, the Sanctuary of Olympia — the ...

In 776 B.C.E., spectators gathered in Olympia, Greece, to watch a simple footrace. Thus began the ancient Olympics, the classical sporting competition that continued for more than a millennium ...

The ancient Olympic Games, which began in the 8th century B.C., laid the foundation for the modern Olympic movement, which is a source of national pride for the Greeks and which includes the ...

The graphic shows the ancient hippodrome, a U-shape stadium structure used for hosting chariot races in Ancient Olympics. It is believed that the terraces could accommodate more than 30,000 spectators ...

It was a staple of the ancient Olympics, having been introduced at the 18th Olympiad, in 708 BC, and remained at the program until the very end, 273 Games later.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — Even without the help of Apollo, the flame that is to burn at the Paris Olympics was kindled Tuesday at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece.

The Olympic flame was lit at the birthplace of the Games in Greece on Tuesday in a ceremony rich with ancient traditions that will launch a torch relay culminating in Paris on July 26.

The flame that will burn during the London Games was lit at the birthplace of the ancient Olympics on Thursday, heralding the start of a torch relay that will culminate with the opening ceremony ...

Actress Katerina Lehou, right, as high priestess, lights a pot with the Olympic Flame, during the final dress rehearsal of the lighting of the Olympic flame at Ancient Olympia, in western Greece on ...

The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was lit in ancient Olympia in a traditional ceremony on Tuesday, marking the final stretch of the seven-year preparations for the Games' start on July 26.

The ancient Olympics were held in honor of Zeus, king of the Greek gods. By the mid-second century B.C.E., the Roman Empire had taken control of Greece, including Olympia.