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Thread on the Piety of the Ancient Greeks, text by William L. Judy, 1907. “Every city of ancient Greece had its festivals and athletic games in honor of its protecting deity.” (1/5) 
“The games, festivals, contests were held every four years, and lasted five days. They were pan-Hellenic; among the spectators and athletes were found Greeks from Sicily, Southern Italy, Crete, the islands of the Aegean Sea, Asia Minor, Byzantium, and Greece proper.” (2/5)
“The athletes had to be freeborn Greeks of unstained character; none could enter who had committed sacrilege, impiety, murder, or any other serious offense. Each athlete felt that the honor and standing of his native city depended on his success.” (3/5)
“Modern athletic competitions bring to us some realization of the splendor, energy of the contestants, the enthusiasm of the spectators; but we miss their religious and patriotic setting, the beautiful bare forms of the athletes, the historical associations, the Greek sky.” (4/5)
“Never in all her history was Greece as united in interest and friendly relations as in these national games and festivals. Every city, colony, or state was represented by athletes and embassies.” (5/5)
