What Is Ancient Olympia?
Olympia is a small town in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. It is famous for the archaeological site of the same name, which was a Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece. The ancient Olympic Games were held here every four years from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The site was primarily dedicated to Zeus and although it bears the same name as Mount Olympus in northern Greece, it is not the same.
Ancient Olympia had over 70 temples in total, as well as treasuries, altars, statues, and other structures dedicated to many deities. The Altis was a rather chaotic arrangement of buildings, the most important being the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Zeus, the Pelopion, and the area of the great altar of Zeus, where the largest sacrifices were made.
To the north of the sanctuary lies the Prytaneion and the Philippeion, as well as a collection of treasuries representing the various city-states. The Metroon lies to the south, with the Echo Stoa to the east. The hippodrome and later stadium were located east of the Echo Stoa. To the south is the South Stoa and the bouleuterion, and to the west lies the palaestra, the workshop of Pheidias, the gymnasion, and the Leonidaion.
Olympia was best known for the enormous statue of Zeus. It was sculpted by Pheidias and named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
History
The site could have been occupied since about 1500 BC with the cult of Zeus developing around 1000 BC, but no buildings have survived from this early period of time.
The authorities of Elis organised the first Olympic festival in the 8th century BC and this is dated around 776 BC. The sanctuary fell into the hands of the Pisatans in 676 BC and they continued to organise the games until the late 7th century BC.
Building activities dates to around 600 BC when the Temple of Hera was built by the Skiloudians. The first stadium was just a simple track and constructed around 560 BC.
This was followed by the Temple of Zeus and further sporting facilities, which included the final iteration of the stadium and the hippodrome. Around 400 BC the Metroon was constructed and the Echo Stoa and South Stoa around 350 BC. Various buildings were added during the late 4th century such as the Phillippeion, the Leonidaion, Palaestra, Gymnasion and bath houses.
Destruction caused by earthquakes and invading tribes during the 3rd century lead to the site being fortified with material robbed from its monuments. Despite this the games went ahead until 93 AD when the Christian emperor Theodosius I banned it. The temple of Zeus was allegedly destroyed around 426 AD.
The site was taken over by Christians and there is evidence that the Olympic games were still held in secret until plagues and earthquakes during the mid-6th century wrecked the site. It was finally abandoned in the early 7th century. The area was only re-discovered in 1766 by the English antiquarian Richard Chandler.
Archaeological Remains
The French Scientific Expedition of the Peloponnese started to excavate the Temple of Zeus in 1829. This was followed by the German Archaeological Institute of Athens in 1875 and they continue to do so today. Several monuments of the site are currently under conservation and restoration.
The excavation of the central part of the sanctuary revealed the Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera, Metroon, Bouleuterion, Philipeion, Echo Stoa, Treasuries and Palaestra. Over 14 000 objects were recorded including sculptures from the Temple of Zeus, the Nike of Paeonius, the Hermes of Praxiteles and many bronzes. The finds were displayed in a museum on the site.
During 1936 excavations were focussed on the area to the south of the stadium revealing the South Stoa, bath complex and gymnasion. From 1952 to 1966 they excavated Pheidias’ workshop, the Leonidaion and the north wall of the stadium. They also unearthed the southeast section of the sanctuary and out of approximately 140 debris pits found many bronze and ceramic objects along with terracotta roof tiles.
The Excavations Between 1972 And 1984 Revealed Important Dating Evidence For The Stadium, Graves, And The Location Of The Prytaneion. From 1984 To 1996, The Site And The Focus Shifted To The Earlier History Of The Sanctuary With Excavation Of The Prytaneion And Pelopion.
The Archaeological Museum Of Olympia, Is One Of The Most Important Museums In Greece, Presenting The Long History Of The Sanctuary Of Zeus And Where The Olympic Games Were Born. The Museum’s Permanent Exhibition Contains Finds From The Excavations In The Sacred Precinct Of The Altis Dating From Prehistoric Times To The Early Christian Period.
Interest for Today
The Olympic Flame Of The Modern-Day Olympic Games Is Lit By Reflection Of Sunlight In A Parabolic Mirror In Front Of The Temple Of Hera And Then Carried By A Torch To The Place Where The Games Are Held. When The Modern Olympics Came To Athens In 2004, Some Items Were Held At The Restored Olympia Stadium.
Panagiotis Kondylis, A Modern Greek Thinker, And Philosopher Was Born And Raised In Olympia. When Pierre De Coubertin, The Founder Of The International Olympic Committee, Died In 1937, A Monument To Him Was Built At Ancient Olympia.
The Site And Town Of Olympia Were Severely Threatened And Nearly Damaged By The 2007 Forest Fires.
Location
Ancient Olympia is in the city of Olympia, 306km south of the city of Athens and in the centre of the Peloponnese. Coordinates: 37°38′17″N 21°37′48″
Tourist Information
Visiting hours from April 1st – October 31st, Monday to Sunday is 08:00 – 20:00.
From November 1st – March 31st, Monday to Sunday is 08:00 – 15:00
Tickets in 2020 was €12, reduced for children to €6 and the ticket is valid for one day only.
This includes the visit to the following areas:
- Archaeological Site of Olympia.
- Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
- Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity.
- Museum of the History of the Excavations in Olympia.
On certain holidays admission is free.
- Telephone: (+30) 26240 22742
- Telephone: +30 26240 22517
- Fax: +30 26240 22529
