Ancient Olympia: Birthplace of the Olympic Games

Explore the history, culture, and legacy of this legendary site.

About Ancient Olympia

Nestled in the western Peloponnese peninsula of Greece, Ancient Olympia holds immense significance as the birthplace of the Olympic Games. This sacred site, dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, had a massive Statue of Zeus, which had been ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It witnessed the pinnacle of athletic prowess and religious fervor for over 1,000 years.

Enduring Legacy

The Olympic Games, held in Olympia every four years, flourished for over a millennium, from 776 BC to 393 AD. These games were a celebration of physical prowess and were dedicated to the god Zeus. Events included running, jumping, throwing, and combat sports. The Olympics were a unifying force for the Greek city-states and helped to promote peace during the games.

Statue of Zeus

Statue of Zeus, at Olympia, Greece, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The statue was one of two masterpieces by the Greek sculptor Phidias (the other being the statue of Athena in the Parthenon) and was placed in the huge Temple of Zeus at Olympia in western Greece. The statue, almost 12 m (40 feet) high and plated with gold and ivory, represented the god sitting on an elaborate cedarwood throne ornamented with ebony, ivory, gold, and precious stones. On his outstretched right hand was a statue of Nike (Victory), and in the god’s left hand was a sceptre on which an eagle was perched. The statue, which took eight years to construct, was noted for the divine majesty and goodness it expressed. The discovery in the 1950s of the remains of Phidias’ workshop at Olympia confirmed the statue’s date of about 430 BCE. The temple was destroyed in 426 CE, and the statue, of which no accurate copies survive, may have been destroyed then or in a fire at Constantinople (now Istanbul) about 50 years later.

Visiting the Museum

The glory of the Temple of Zeus may be diminished by time, but the Archaeological Museum of Olympia offers a chance to delve deeper into its history and artistry. Here, visitors can encounter fragments of the temple's sculptures, showcasing the intricate details and craftsmanship that once adorned the building. These pieces, along with other artifacts unearthed at Olympia, provide a window into the religious significance and artistic achievements of the ancient world.

The stadium of Olympia

The stadium at the archaeological site of Olympia, Greece, is located to the east of the sanctuary of Zeus. It was the location of many of the sporting events at the Ancient Olympic Games. The physical landmarks of the stadium are 212.54 m (697.3 ft) long and 30–34 m (98–112 ft) wide, and it served mainly for running races that determined the fastest person in the world. The track was made of hard-packed clay to serve as traction for the contestants in the running events. As in current day athletics, a white block was placed on one end of the track where the athletes would line up to place their feet and got ready to start of the race. The white block was used to align all the athletes so they would all run the same distance.

Sporting events were originally associated with funeral rituals, for example, the funeral games instigated by Achilles in honour of Patroklos in Homer's Iliad.

The first olympic games were held in 776 bce at the first full moon after the summer solstice.

Ancient Olympia was initially named Altis (Αλτις), meaning holy forest (Ιερό δάσος).

It was build on the northern shore of the river Alfeios.

First inhabited in the second millennium BCE, the first archaeological record of dwellings dates from 1900 to 1600 BCE. The Kronion hill at the site was perhaps the first place of worship, dedicated to Kronos. However, other sacred buildings at the foot of the hill in the sacred grove of wild olive trees, or Altis, indicate other deities were worshipped such as Gaia, Themis, Aphrodite, and Pelops. With the descent of western Greek tribes into the Peloponnese, though, it was Zeus, father of the Olympian gods, who would become the dominant cult figure at Olympia.

The Philippeion (Greek: Φιλιππεῖον)

In the Altis of Olympia was an Ionic circular memorial in limestone and marble, a tholos, which contained chryselephantine (ivory and gold) statues of Philip's family: himself, Alexander the Great, Olympias, Amyntas III and Eurydice I. It was made by the Athenian sculptor Leochares in celebration of Philip's victory at the battle of Chaeronea (338 BC). It was the only structure inside the Altis dedicated to a human.

Sources

https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia,_Greece

Ancient Olympia