What is the Panathenaia?

The Great Panathenaia was held every 4 years in the town of Athens, this is unlike the Panathenaia which is a smaller version held every year. It was a religious festival, it honoured the paten goddess Athena. it consisted of many tribal events as Athens is divided into 11 districts. the most important part of this festival was the procession in which the Peplos (a robe) which was given to the statue of Athena as a birthday present with the sacrifice of the hundreds of animals. Also another element of the Panathenaia was the touch race which is where our idea of the Olympic flame originates.