Olympia is an archaeological site ofElis. In this place the ancient Olympic games took place. The modern city of Olympia is Archea Olympia and is located next to the archaeological area.
To know
Geographical notes
The ruins of ancient Olympia are located in a plain at the foot of the hill of Kronos on the banks of the river Cladeo which from north to south separates the new city from the site of Olympia to join the river Alpheus flowing south of these. Both rivers are linked by a myth.
The starting point of the site was the sacred wood at the foot of the mount Cronion, surrounded by a wall in the era. In this area called Altis there were temples, and here was also the oracle of Olympia. In the beginning, the stadium was also located here, showing the religious origin of the games. West and south ofAltis, there were the training and competition buildings for the athletes, the stadium was then moved to the east.
Background
Olympia was set in a valley located along the course of the river Alfeo, in the Elide (north-western Peloponnese), near the town of Pisa (Greece). The city possessed many buildings, some of which were used as homes by the athletes who participated in the games, called Olympic games, which were held every four years in honor of Zeus.
Initially, the games were likely played in a single day with the only running competition at the stadium. In the following years even more competitive specialties were added: long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, pancrazio, numerous running events, chariot races etc. It should be added that the Olympics were by no means the only sporting event of antiquity, but (today) the best known. There were other Panhellenic games a Delphi, Corinth is Nemea. The award ceremony took place with an olive branch or a laurel wreath, but much more important for the athlete was the glory and honor that allowed him to have many more prizes and gifts that allowed him to live well. Many of the ancient athletes were professionals, and there were also scandals and scams to win.
In this place it was first compiled in 776 BC. a list of winners: it is possible to deduce from this that it was the outcome of the first historically verified Olympics. The Olympics went through many historical events from antiquity until 393 AD. they were banned as they were considered a pagan heritage.
After their rediscovery in the 18th century, the area is systematically excavated by archaeologists. The most important finds are housed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. In 1988, the archaeological site of Olympia was added to the list of world heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
How to get
By plane
The nearest domestic airports are at Calamata, about 115 km and Araxos airport close to Patras.
By car
Olympia can be reached from Patras on the N33 (about 100 km), from Tripoli on the N74 (about 115 km), from Kalamata on the E65 (about 115 km).
The most important port nearby is located at Patras (110 km). While the closest one is a Katakolo (34 km) where numerous cruise ships dock, and passengers arrive by bus in Olympia.
On the train
In the modern city of Archaea Olympia there is a small train station that makes connections only with Pyrgos (30 min).
By bus
Not far from the train station there is also the bus stop whose only possible connection is with Pyrgos through several daily buses.
Permits / Rates
| Combined tickets |
Tickets related to: Archaeological site of Olympia, Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games and the Olympia Excavation History Museum are part of a single ticket valid for one day, there are no tickets for each single area. |
Entrance tickets to the Olympia site vary in price according to the season: from April to October the ticket is € 12 full, while the reduced ticket is € 6. From November to March admission is full € 6 and reduced € 3. Tickets purchased are combined, as explained in the table opposite.
The winter time of entry to the site and its museums is every day from 08:00 to 15:00. In the summer period from 08:00 to 20:00.
How to get around
Olympia: full screen map.Once the car is parked the best way to get around is on foot, considering the short distances. From the village, a path leads over a bridge on the eastern bank of the Cladeo up to the Archaeological Museum. A little further south begins the excavation area, from which it is possible to return to a sidewalk along the access path to the village.
What see
Before making the visit to the archaeological area it is suggested to visit the museum that allows you to better understand the monuments that will be seen.
- 1 Propylaea to the northeast.
- 2 Prytaneum. The prytaneum was the place of the pritani, that is of the magistrates who carried out administrative work for the city. In Olympia they took care of the administrative aspects of the games, as well as planning the Olympic event every four years. Inside was kept the fire of the goddess Estia.
- 3 Filippeion. This circular monument, of which the columns and the architrave remain, is the only one in Olympia to be dedicated to people and not to divinities. The reference was Philip II of Macedon as well as the remaining part of the lineage including the famous Alexander the Great.
- 4 Temple of Hera (Heraion of Olympia). The temple was built around 600 BC. It was 50 meters long and 18 meters wide. Since 1936, the Olympic flame has been lit before the Heraion.
- 5 Pelopion. The pelopion was a monument dedicated to Pelops, a figure of Greek mythology and creator of the Olympic Games. A specially dedicated cult was reserved in this place. Little remains of the pentagonal structure today.
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- 6 Nymphaeum of Herodes Atticus. This nymphaeum was built by Herodes Atticus around 153 AD and was a monumental fountain with several statues of Roman emperors including that of Herod, some of which are preserved in the archaeological museum of Olympia.
- 7 Metroon. This temple was dedicated to a very ancient Greek deity: Meter, the mother of the gods. It stands next to the remains of the treasures inside the Altis.
- 8 Temple treasury (Terrace of the Treasures). In this place were kept the treasures, that is the offerings of value in gold and artifacts, left by the various cities of all Greece. Starting from the left you can find the foundations of (see also the map above for identification): I: Sicyon, II: Syracuse, III: Epidamno?, IV: Byzantium?, V: Sybaris?, VI: Cyrene?, VII: Anonymous, VIII: Altar, IX: Selinunte, X: Metaponto, XI: Megara, XII: Gela.
- 9 Crypt (Invisible).
- 10 Stage. Compared to other stadiums of that time, the Olympic Stadium was poorly equipped. there were rows of seats for up to 45,000 spectators now completely absent, and there was a platform for the referees and one for the only woman who was allowed to watch the matches: the priestess of Demeter. The marble threshold of the departure is visible. Here the running disciplines were performed: the length of the track was 600 feet or 192.28 m.
- 11 Eco stoà (front porch). The name of this stoà perhaps derives from the echo effect produced at the time by the colonnade.
- 12 Monument of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II. The statues were placed on Ionic columns 8.5 m high.
- 13 Estia stoà (front porch).
- 14 Hellenistic palace.
- 15 Temple of Zeus. The temple was built around 460 BC. It was 64 meters long and 28 meters wide. In his cell there was a statue of Zeus 12 meters high, which was counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. Limestone from the surrounding area, covered with fine stucco, was used for the construction of the temple. Roof and frieze were made of marble. The drips were in the shape of lion heads, the pediment friezes represented the founding myth of Olympia, details of which can be found in the archaeological museum. In this temple, every four years, following the Olympics, the winning athletes were rewarded with an olive branch.
- 16 Altar of Zeus. Almost nothing remains of this important altar except the descriptions of Pausanias who describes it as circular, with a circumference of 37m and 7m high. Animal sacrifices took place here.
- 17 Acheon's ex voto.
- 18 Mikythos ex-voto.
- 19 Nike by Peonio di Mende. This column with a triangular base had on the highest point the statue of victory sculpted by Peonio di Mende. The column measured 9 meters and joining the statue also reached 12 meters. The votive inscription and the statue are exhibited in the Olympia Museum. The monument dates back to the 5th century BC.
- 20 Gymnasion. In this place the athletes trained in the individual specialties ensuring the possibility of training even when the weather conditions were not optimal. The interior rooms contained various writings, tombstones and even caricatures related to athletes in the walls. Some of them were even buried here.
- 21 Gym. Such a building usually consisted of a locker room, a massage and ointment room, and a gym.
- 22 Theokoleon. This building was the permanent residence of the priests of Olympia.
- 23 Heroon.
- 24 Works by Phidias and early Christian basilica. In early Christian times, this building was redesigned and used as a basilica. Excavations revealed clear evidence of the great sculptor Phidias' use as a laboratory.
- 25 Terme del Cladeo. A spa building very close to the Cladeo River, built around the 5th century BC. which originally had an outdoor pool. In 300 BC these baths were enlarged by adding in 100 BC. also of the warm environments typical of the Romans. Today some mosaics remain preserved.
- 26 Greek baths (Greek baths). In this place from the 5th century BC the athletes prepared themselves physically by taking baths and cleaning the body of the oils that were sprinkled before competitions. they were called Greek baths or baths to distinguish them from others of the Roman era.
- 27 Accommodations.
- 28 Accommodations.
- 29 Leonidaion. This building was used as accommodation for athletes participating in Olympic competitions.
- 30 Thermal baths.
- 31 Bouleuterion. In the bouleterion the assembly to resolve disputes related to games, cases of fraud and more met. But as a public building, the competition tools and game archives were also kept.
- 32 Southern Stoa (front porch). This is the southernmost stoa of the still partially excavated site which dates back to the 4th century BC. On the internal side it had a Doric colonnade while on the external one, that is, overlooking the Alfeo river, located south of the site, a Corinthian colonnade.
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- 33 Villa of Nero. Remains of the Roman villa of the Emperor Nero who participated in the Olympic competitions.
- 34 Archaeological Museum. The museum is located in a modern building outside the excavation area. To the right of the museum there are shops attached to the museum, a restaurant and toilets. The museum chronologically reconstructs the history of Olympia and its finds. Among the various rooms, divided by epochs, there are exhibits that lead back to the time.
- It is certainly an important place to understand the history of the site.
What to do
See the entry Archaea Olympia.
Shopping
See the entry Archaea Olympia.
Where to eat
Where stay
See the entry Archaea Olympia.
