Notes

One of the legends of the Greek hero Pelops.

So there was Oinomaos, king of Pisa, had a daughter named Hippodamia but no sons. However, it was also prophesied to him that his son-in-law would kill him. Anyways, without a son, he had no one to inherit his kingdom. So, he decreed that anyone who would marry his daughter would become this heir. Many men therefore, much of whom unsuitable, asked for his daughters hand in marriage. As this became annoying, Oinomaos issued a challenge. In order to marry his daughter, the man must beat him, the king, in a chariot race. If they won, they would marry his daughter and eventually inherit his kingdom. However, if the challenger lost, Oinomaos would slay him. Thus, many lost their lives. Eventually, the hero Pelops took up the challenge (who, by the way, was already loved by Hippodamia, and had already been trained on the chariot by Poseidon himself). Hippodamia (or Pelops, depending on the account), wanting Pelops to win, conspired with Myrtilus, the charioteer of Oinomaos, to loosen the kings chariot wheels so that Pelops could win, and in return take half the kingdom and the first night with her in bed. Thus, when the competition began, and Pelops initially took the lead with Oinomaos getting ready to slay him, the chariot wheel loosened and Oinomaos was dragged to death by his horses, and Pelops emerged victor - and also slew Myrtilus when he tried to rape Hippodamia. Myrtilus cursed Pelops as he slew him, thus beginning the cruse of the Atreides (another story for another time, and according to some accounts, was actually caused by Tantalus, father of Pelops who killed him once much earlier).

In honor of his chariot victory over Oinomaos, Pelops established the Olympic Games, where people would compete with each other in athletics and sport in order to acclaim victory and glory.