The ancient Olympics were a series of athletic contests between city-states in Greece. The first games were held in 776 BC and continued until 393 AD. Over the course of competitions, the Olympics evolved from a local event to a Panhellenic (international) spectacle.

The most famous event of the ancient Olympics was the running of the marathon. The first marathon was run in 490 BC and the event continued to be held every four years until 393 AD. The marathon was originally a foot race, but over time it was extended to cover a distance of 26.2 miles.

The ancient Olympics also featured competitions in boxing, chariot racing, drawing, equestrianism, and wrestling. In boxing, fighters would use their fists, feet, and head to defeat their opponents. The chariot racing event was one of the most popular events of the ancient Olympics. Horses and the drivers drove the chariots around the track. The equestrian event was a horse-riding competition in which the participants would try to jump over obstacles. The wrestling event was a match between two fighters who would try to throw each other to the ground.