Quizzes
Quick Facts
- Key People:
- Cleisthenes Of Sicyon
- Related Topics:
- ancient Greek civilization
- Notable Honorees:
- Milo of Croton
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Pythian Games
Greek games
Pythian Games, in ancient Greece, various athletic and musical competitions held in honour of Apollo, chiefly those at Delphi. The musiciansā contest there dated from very early times. In 582 bc it was made quadrennial, and athletic events including foot and chariot races were added in emulation of the Olympic Games. Open to all Greeks, the contests were held either at the Delphic shrine on Mount Parnassus or on the Crisaean plain below. The victor was awarded a laurel wreath. The games took place in August of the third year of each Olympiad (the four-year period between Olympic Games). The interval between them was known as a Pythiad. They continued to be held until the 4th century ad.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking āSign Upā, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.