Though far more culturally important to the Greek world than the modern Olympics, the ancient games took place over the course of just five days. Below is a reconstruction of the ancient Olympic program, taken from Tony Perrottet’s The Naked Olympics:

The original format of the ancient Olympics was such a success that it hardly changed after its main contours were established around 470 B.C. There were a few ill-fated experiments, but by and large the schedule remained consistent, a beacon of Greek tradition in a world transformed by conquests, plagues, exotic religions, and grasping empires. Historians still argue about the details, but a consensus has emerged on the basic schedule of the five-day program:

• Opening ceremonies: Swearing-in of athletes, trainers, and Olympic judges before a statue of Zeus wielding a thunderbolt.
• Contests for heralds and trumpeters in the Echo Colonnade.
• Athletes make their private sacrifices to the gods at one of the site’s altars and consult oracles.

• Free time for art lovers to explore Sacred Grove of Zeus, one of Greece’s most spectacular collections of statuary and paintings.
• Literary events: Poets recite their works, philosophers expound, historians present new work.
• Less edifying pursuits available at the carnival-style festival fringe.

• Equestrian events: Chariot and horse races in the Hippodrome. The popular four-horse chariot race, or tethrippon, opens the celebration, followed by bareback racp. In 408 B.C., a two-horse chariot race is added, followed in latef years by a four-colt chariot race (384 B.C.), a two-colt chariot race (268 B.C.), and bareback races for colts (256 B.C.).

• Pentathlon in the Stadium