The Olympics as diplomacy: interstate negotiations and peace-making at the games (c.6th century BCE–4th century CE)

1. Sacred Truce tradition frames safe travel

   Jan 1, 776 BCELabels: Ekecheiria, Sanctuary of

   • Britannica Truce
   • Britannica Truce Essay
   • Culture Greece

2. Olympia develops as a Panhellenic sanctuary

   Jan 1, 600 BCELabels: Olympia, Zeus Sanctuary

   • Britannica
   • Britannica Truce

3. Olympia’s “theoroi” diplomacy grows with festival

   Jan 1, 550 BCELabels: Theoroi, Festival Delegations

   • Britannica Truce
   • KU Leuven

4. Sparta is excluded for truce violation

   Jan 1, 420 BCELabels: Sparta, Elis

   • Gardiner
   • Oxford Academic
   • KU Leuven

5. Olympia becomes a stage for Panhellenic political appeals

   Jan 1, 388 BCELabels: Lysias, Olympic Oration

   • Diodorus Lysias

6. Arcadians seize Olympia; fighting intrudes on the Games

   Jan 1, 364 BCELabels: Arcadia, Sanctuary Siege

   • KU Leuven
   • Mantinea 362

7. Philip II uses Olympic victory for wider influence

   Jan 1, 356 BCELabels: Philip II, Macedon

   • Britannica Philip

8. Delphi’s oracle is tied to Olympic sanctions

   Jan 1, 332 BCELabels: Delphi Oracle, Athens

   • Pausanias 5

9. Roman rule reframes Olympia as an imperial meeting ground

   Jan 1, 1Labels: Roman Empire, Imperial Elites

   • Britannica Truce

10. Hadrian promotes Panhellenic institutions and identity

    Jan 1, 131Labels: Hadrian, Panhellenion

    • Panhellenion

11. Pausanias records truce text on Iphitos’ quoit

    Jan 1, 170Labels: Pausanias, Iphitos Quoit

    • Pausanias 5
    • Culture Greece

12. Christian imperial policy undermines the Olympic cult setting

    Jan 1, 393Labels: Theodosius I, Christian Policy

    • Britannica Truce Essay
    • Persecution

13. Olympia’s diplomatic function fades with the festival’s decline

    Jan 1, 400Labels: Olympic Festival, Sanctuary Decline

    • Britannica Truce
    • KU Leuven