Olympic Truce (Ekecheiria)

Abstract

The Olympic ekecheiria was a truce associated with the Olympic Games, held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios in Eleia. The traditional view is that the announcement of the ekecheiria by envoys from Elis led to several months of peace throughout Greece. Lammer argues, however, that since ekecheiria were also declared for the other three major panhellenic festivals, all held in summer (when most Greek warfare took place), the truce must merely have guaranteed safe passage for festival-goers.