The Ancient Olympic Games And Religious Ceremonies

The purpose of this thesis is to make a systematic exposition of the origin, development and decline of the ancient Olympic Games from the angle of religious rites. The ancient Olympic Games not only were a grand sports match but also had a close relationship with ancient Greek religious rites. However, the religious rites were different in different historical periods. Therefore, a study on this subject will help us to have a clear understanding of the relationship between the ancient Olympic Games and religion.First, the thesis investigates the religious origins of the ancient Olympic Games from the aspects of history, funeral and mythology and points out that ancient Olympic Games originated from religious rites and was an important part of religious rites. Then, the thesis has an introduction of the development of the ancient Olympic Games and the contest scenes. Through the introduction of sports arena construction, the arrangement of hieron and altar, match situation, ceremony rules and so on of ancient Olympic Games in its period of full bloom, this part explains the religious meaning of the ancient Olympic Games of this period. Finally, this thesis analyzes the declining process of the ancient Olympic Games. Through a review of different development situations in different periods after 400 B.C., the thesis reveals the declining process of ancient Olympic Games was also a process of religious desalination.