Panhellenic Games In Ancient Greece

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The Panhellenic games played a pivotal role in Ancient Greece for a myriad of cultural, political and religious reasons. These four games were seen as the most prestigious and were held to honor the
Gods; Apollo (God of sky and Thunder), Zeus (God of Sun and Light), Heracles (Son on Zeus) and
Poseidon (God of the sea) (Olympic.org). The festivals were held at varying intervals between 2 - 4 years within the city state of origin. The city states were played an important role as they housed the religious sanctuaries for these gods. These sanctuaries served as a place of religious refuge where persons could seek asylum without fear of being persecuted or attacked. The games played an important part in not only honoring the Gods but also celebrating the athleticism and vigor of the youth within Greece (AvantiLogic). It was also a way to unite city states with a common thread by celebrating achievements and enjoying the entertainment brought on by the festivals. These games left an important legacy of community and passion not only in ancient Greece but in modern society. This is evidenced by the continuing Olympic sports ceremony that unites countries around the world to display the athletic prowess of their nationals. The Olympic Games, arguably the most prestigious of the four festivals was held in honor of Zeus. While several myths exist concerning the origins of the Olympic Games, a commonly held view notes that at the birth of Zeus, four brothers rushed to