Panhellenic Games

Panhellenic Games is the collective term for four separate religious festivals held in ancient Greece that became especially well known for the athletic competitions they included. The four festivals were: the Olympic Games, which were held at Olympia in honor of Zeus;^[1] the Pythian Games, which took place in Delphi and honored Apollo;^[2] the Nemean Games, occurring at Nemea and also honoring Zeus;^[3] and, finally, the Isthmian Games set in Isthmia and held in honor of Poseidon.^[4] The places at which these games were held were considered to be "the four great panhellenic sanctuaries."^[5] Each of these Games took place over a four-year period, starting with the Olympics. Along with the fame and notoriety of winning the ancient Games, the athletes earned different crowns of leaves from the different Games. From the Olympics, the victor won an olive wreath, from the Pythian Games a laurel wreath, from the Nemean Games a crown of wild celery leaves, and from the Isthmian Games a crown of pine.^[6]