Why were the ancient Olympic Games ultimately discontinued?

The ancient Olympic Games were ultimately discontinued because they were deemed pagan rites. This conclusion arises from the historical context of the time, particularly with the rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire. By the end of the 4th century AD, Emperor Theodosius I declared an edict that banned pagan festivals, which included the Olympic Games. This was part of a broader movement to establish Christianity as the state religion and suppress practices that were not aligned with Christian beliefs. The Olympic Games, which honored the Greek gods and involved rituals that could be considered sacrilegious from a Christian perspective, were thus seen as incompatible with the new religious order.

In contrast, the other options, while they may reflect various aspects of the decline in interest or evolving societal values, do not capture the primary reason for the Games' discontinuation as effectively as the religious transformation of the period. The expenses and rules of the Games became secondary issues compared to the overarching influence of Christianity, which led to a systematic dismantling of pagan practices, including the Olympics.