how long did the ancient olympics last

The ancient Olympic Games themselves lasted about five days by the classical period, though they started shorter and grew over time.

Quick Scoop: Timeline in a Nutshell

• At the very beginning (776 BCE), the Olympics were a one‑day event focused on a single footrace.

• By 684 BCE, they had expanded to three days of competitions and rituals.

• By the 5th century BCE, the festival schedule settled into about five days , mixing athletics, religious ceremonies, and celebrations.

So if you’re picturing an ancient Games in, say, classical Greece, imagine roughly a five‑day festival at Olympia, every four years.

TL;DR: The ancient Olympics grew from a one‑day meet into a multi‑day festival and, in their mature form, typically ran for about five days.

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