What is an unusual fact about ancient Olympics?

Answer 1

I don't know if these facts are 'unusual' but they areinteresting.

• The athletes were all male and all naked; they rubbed olive oil on themselves to make their bodies more attractive.
• The Olympic Games were one set of four events, the others being the Pythian, Nemean and Isthmian Games.
• The Ancient Olympic Games was as much religious as athletic. On the middle day, 100 oxen were sacrificed to Zeus.
• The Games were also artistic - poets and sculptors would gather to display their work. This itself became a kind of competition.
• The running track in the Ancient Games was straight and runners would turn around at the end and run back, just as swimmers turn around and swim back today.
• Boxing matches in the Ancient Games had no breaks and they continued until one man surrendered or died; however, it was not a good idea to kill your opponent, as a dead fighter was declared the winner.