If Delphi was the spiritual center of Ancient Greece, Olympia was its heart and soul. Nowhere were the Greek ideals of body, mind, and honor more openly exalted than at Olympia.
The Ancient Olympia site and Archaeological Museum provide a fascinating look into Greek (and later Roman) culture. The site is extensive. It includes a gymnasium, bathhouse, a 145 room hotel with private baths for Olympic athletes, the workshop of Pheidias (sculptor of Zeus, among other achievements), the Olympic stadium, the Temple of Hera, and dominating all the monumental Temple of Zeus, which was leveled by earthquakes in the 6th century AD. In antiquity the site was occupied only by priests and other officials.
It’s impossible to convey the power of visiting this site and the adjacent museum, but I hope a few images will do.
The Philippeion, which once contained statues of Philip, has family, Alexander the Great, and others.
The Philippeion.
The Temple of Hera.
Bowl from the Temple of Hera.
Stadium entrance, looking into the stadium.
Stadium interior. The seats were for royalty and judges. Spectators sat on the hillsides.
Stadium arch detail.
Stadium entrance exterior.
Temple of Zeus. Originally featured 34 columns. The standing one has been reconstructed.
Temple of Zeus, entrance steps.
Marble base for Nike (Winged Victory) which is housed in the museum.
Column pieces from the Temple of Zeus, left where they fell after an earthquake in the 6th century.
The Leonides hotel for athletes.
Pheidias’ workshop, interior wall. This is where the statue of Zeus was created.
Pheidias’ workshop, interior. It was later converted into a Byzantine church.
Gymnasium. The lower columns were smooth so that the athletes could scratch their backs more easily.
Statuary from the Temple of Zeus.
Hellenic pottery.
Helmets.
1 thought on “Ancient Olympia”
It must be a pretty impressive sight (and site!) in person!
It must be a pretty impressive sight (and site!) in person!