Page 69 - Introduction to Tourism

evolution in travel. In the cradle of Western

civilization, travel for trade, commerce, religious

purposes, festivals, medical treatment, or

education developed at an early date.

There are numerous references to caravans and

traders in the Old Testament. Beginning in 776
B.C.E. , citizens of the city - states came together

every four years to honor Zeus through athletic
competition. Eventually, four of these national

festivals emerged: Olympic Games, Pythian
Games, Isthmian Games, and Nemean Games.

Each festival included sacrifice and prayer to a

single god. The games honored the deity by

offering up a superlative athletic or artistic

performance. Thus: Greek inns provided little

more than a night ’ s shelter. A guest who wanted

to wash had to carry his own towel down the

street to the nearest public bath. Once there, he

took off his clothes in a dressing room and put

them in someone ’ s care, lest they be stolen

while he bathed. “ The bath itself was a big basin

over which he leaned while an attendant sloshed

water over him. ”

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