Some ornamentations in old Panathenaean amphoras of 5th century BC Cylix (a shallow, two-handled, stemmed drinking cup) revealed that there were armoured races in ancient Olympics. Perhaps the need for competitions between athletes dressed in armour was taken from the system of training the defenders of a city. Though heavily armed the Greek hoplites could run fast. In earlier days the athletes had to run wearing helmets, bronze greaves and shields. The evidence of an amphora painting as depicted on a Cuban stamp suggested that participants only had to wear helmets and shields. 

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