Panos Valavanis is Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Athens, teaching and researching in the fields of classical vase painting, topography of ancient Athens, classical architecture, Greek athletics and ancient Greek technology.

• Foreword Sir John BoardmanAcknowledgments Publisher’s NotePrefaceIntroduction Athletics and ReligionThe Prehistory of AthleticsGreat Festivals and GamesΟlympia The SiteOlympia And the Olympic GamesZeusΟlympia Over the Centuries 3rd And 2nd Millennia BC Prehistoric Elis And Olympia11th–8th C. BC The Establishment of the Sanctuary and the Early Period8th C. BC The Foundation of The Olympic Games7th–6th C. BC The Period of Great Development5th C. BC The Glory of the Classical Period4th C. BC The Late Classical Period3rd–2nd C. BC The Hellenistic Period1st C. BC–2nd C. AD The Roman Intervention3rd–4th C. AD Olympia in Late AntiquityDelphi The SiteFoundation Myths and LegendsApolloDelphi Over The Centuries16th–11th C. BC The Prehistoric Settlement10th–8th C. BC The Arrival of Apollo7th–6th C. BC The Great Development of the Sanctuary and the Amphictyony6th C. BC The Archaic Period5th–4th C. BC Classical Period3rd–2nd C. BC The Hellenistic Period1st C. BC–4th C. AD Roman TimesΙsthmiaThe SiteFoundation Myths and LegendsPoseidonIsthmia Over The Centuries 11th–6th C. BC Early History of The Sanctuary5th–4th C. BC The Classical Period3rd–2nd C. BC The Hellenistic Period1st C. BC–3rd C. Ad Roman TimesΝemea The SiteFoundation Myths and LegendsNemea Over The Centuries 6th C. BC The Early History of the Sanctuary5h C. BC The Classical Period340/30–270/60 BC The Return of the Games to their CradlePanathenaia Foundation Myths and TraditionsAthenaThe Organisation and Conduct of the FestivalThe Panathenaic ProcessionOther Greek and Roman Games Local Games in GreeceGames in the Hellenistic EastThe Games and the Roman EmperorsGames in the East in Roman TimesThe Olympic Games of AntiochThe End of the Ancient GamesThe Events, Rules and Great ChampionsBibliographyIllustration CreditsIndex