Olympia

Olympia

Olympia is an ancient sanctuary in the region of Elis, western Peloponnese, Greece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the Olympic Games, held here in honour of Zeus every four years from 776 BC until AD 393.

History

The sacred precinct of Altis was inhabited from the prehistoric period but gained pan-Hellenic fame when the first recorded Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. At its peak, the sanctuary was home to the chryselephantine statue of Zeus by the sculptor Phidias — ranked among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The games were abolished by Emperor Theodosius I in AD 393 and the site was repeatedly damaged by earthquakes and floods over subsequent centuries. Systematic excavation by German archaeologists began in 1875 and continues to the present day.

What to See

The Temple of Zeus (5th century BC) still displays massive fallen columns, and the cella once housed Phidias’s colossal statue. The Heraion (Temple of Hera) is one of the oldest Doric temples in Greece. The original stadium, measuring 192 metres and framed by grassy embankments for up to 45,000 spectators, retains its ancient starting blocks. The workshop of Phidias has been identified on site. The excellent Archaeological Museum of Olympia houses the pediment sculptures from the Temple of Zeus and the Hermes of Praxiteles. The Olympic flame is lit at the site’s altar every four years before each modern Games.

Getting There

Ancient Olympia is located in the Elis regional unit of the western Peloponnese, Greece, 20 km east of Pyrgos. Trains run from Athens (Kiato connection) and buses from Pyrgos. By car from Athens, allow approximately 3.5 hours via the E65 motorway.

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