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The last Olympics before the modern era, often referred to as the ancient Olympics, were held in 393 AD. The ancient Olympic Games were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of various city-states of ancient Greece, held in honor of Zeus. They began in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece, and continued for nearly 12 centuries.

Key Points about the Ancient Olympics:

1. Duration and Frequency: The ancient Olympics were held every four years, a period known as an Olympiad.

2. Events: The games included a variety of events such as running races, wrestling, boxing, pankration (a form of martial art combining wrestling and boxing), chariot racing, and the pentathlon (which consisted of running, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, and wrestling).

3. Participants: Only freeborn Greek men were allowed to participate. Women were not permitted to compete or even attend the games, except for the priestess of Demeter.

4. Religious Significance: The games were part of a religious festival in honor of Zeus. The athletes would offer sacrifices to the gods, and the games were held in Olympia, which housed the famous Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

5. Decline and End: The decline of the ancient Olympics began with the rise of Roman influence over Greece. The games continued under Roman rule, but their significance diminished over time. The Emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan festivals, including the Olympics, as part of his efforts to promote Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, leading to the end of the ancient Olympic Games in 393 AD.

The modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin, marking the beginning of the modern era of the Olympics. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, paying homage to the origins of the ancient games.