Olympiad

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a period of four years, being the interval from one celebration of the Olympic games to another, by which the ancient Greeks reckoned their with the 776th year before the birth of Christ. The last Olympiad was the 293rd, corresponding to the year A. D. 393. OLYMPIC GAMES. These games, so famous among the Greeks, said to have been instituted in honor of Jupiter by the Idæi Dactyli, 1453 b. c., or by Pelops, 1307 B. c., revived by Iphitus 884 b. C., were held at the beginning of every fifth year, on the banks of the Alpheus, near Olympia, in the Peloponnesus, now the Morea, to exercise the youth in five kinds of combats, the conquerors being highly honored. The prize contended for was a crown made of a kind of wild olive, appropriated to this use. The festival was abolished by Theodosius, A. D. 394. In 1896, after a lapse of more than 1,500 were revived at years, these games Athens. They began April 6 and continued for five consecutive days. The number of spectators was enormous. Athletes from various countries of the world competed for prizes, and some of the principal contests were won by Americans. These games consisted of foot racing, wrestling, fencing, swimming, olive branches. In July, 1900, the second series was held in Paris, France, and was a great success. Americans again won a large portion of the events. At the meet at Stockholm, 1912, the score of American athletes was 85 per cent., leading all other nations. The World War prevented a meet in Berlin in 1916. Olympic games were held in Brussels in 1920.