The Olympic Games first originated in ancient Greece. They were held in Olympia, a site dedicated to Zeus. The Games began in 776 BC and were held every four years until they were suppressed in the 4th century AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, who deemed them pagan. The Olympics celebrated athletic prowess and were a significant cultural event, featuring various competitions among city-states. They were revived in the modern era in 1896, thanks to the efforts of Pierre de Coubertin, leading to the establishment of the contemporary Olympic Games we know today.