In Greek mythology, Ekecheiria, Ekekheiria, or Ecechiria (/ɛsɪˈkaɪri.ə/; Ancient Greek: Ἐκεχειρία means 'armistice, truce') was the spirit and personification of truce, armistice, and cessation of hostilities. The term is also used to refer to the Olympic truce. The ancient Greeks hosted Olympiads for almost 600 years, and whenever the games were announced, Truce Heralds from Olympia went to all participating nations and city states to call for the laying down of arms. The truce was considered sacred, and only two violations are found in the records: Soldiers of Philip of Macedon were convicted of robbing travellers on their way to the games, leading to the Macedonian king being fined, and a King of Sparta was subject to a similar fine. Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, tried to invoke Ekecheiria during World War I in order to continue with the 1916 Games in Berlin. However, he was unsuccessful, and the games were cancelled.
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Ekecheiria in the context of Olympic Truce
The Olympic Truce is a tradition originating from ancient Greece that dates back to 776 BC. A "truce" (from Ancient Greek ἐκεχειρία (ékécheiria) 'laying down of arms') was announced before and during the Olympic Games to ensure the host city state (Elis) was not attacked and athletes and spectators could travel safely to the Games and peacefully return to their respective countries.
In 1992, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) renewed this tradition by calling upon all nations to observe the Truce during the modern Games. The Truce was revived by United Nations Resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, as well by the United Nations Millennium Declaration relating to the world peace and security. Every two years since the 1993 resolution, the United Nations has adopted, with varying levels of consensus, a resolution reaffirming the ideals of the Olympic Truce.