Ancient Olympia Site, Greece

Olympia is a sanctuary, known to have been the home of Olympic Games in Classical Times. The site of Olympia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the 10th century, BC Olympia became a centre for the worship of Zeus, becoming known as the Altis- the sanctuary to the gods- for including temples dedicated to a number of gods. The Olympic games were held every four years, from 776 BC to the 4th century AD.
The site was discovered in 1766 by the English antiquarian Richard Chandler. However, it wasn't until 1829 that the first excavations were carried out by a French expedition. Since the 1870s the excavation and preservation of Ancient Olympia have been the responsibility of the German Archaeological Institute of Athens.
The sanctuary consists of an unorderly arrangement of buildings- the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Zeus, the Pelopion (tomb of Pelops, a figure in Greek mythology) and the altar where sacrifices were made. To the north of the sanctuary stand the Prytaneion ( the building where the officials and winners of the Olympic games met) and the Phillipeion (memorial containing statues of Phillip's family, including his son Alexander the Great). The site also includes the oldest known stadium in the world.

Opening hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (3 p.m. Nov. to Mar.)
Ticket (standard): €6; Site+Museum €9
How to go: If you're going from Athens you'll have to take a bus (KTEL) from Athens to Pyrgos and then from Pyrgos to Olympia, which can be quite time-consuming (one way trip takes about 6 hours); if you're coming from Katakolon (cruise), there's a train that takes you to Olympia in 45 min., 10€ round trip and takes into account the cruises schedules (for more information click here).


Phillipeion

Entrance to the Stadium


Temple of Hera




Gymnasium

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grote Markt, Antwerp

Image
The land where the Grote Markt stands was donated to the city in 1220 by Duke Henry I of Brabant. Soon after the first annual markets, also known as the Brabant Fairs, were organised. At the end of the 15th centuryAntwerp became the most prominent city of the Low Countries, with merchants arriving from England, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Northern German Hanseatic cities. The centrepiece of the square is a large fountain, known as the Brabo Fountain. It was built in 1887 and according to legend, Brabo was a local hero who killed the giant Antigoon and cut off his head and hands. The giant was demanding a high toll to each ship that wanted to enter the city. The square is surrounded by 16th-century Guildhalls, restaurants and cafes. In Winter it hosts the Christmas Market and an ice rink.
Read more

Church of Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal

Image
The church of Santa Maria de Belém originated from the expansion,  ordered by Henry the Navigator in the 15th century,  of a previous hermitage built on the site. The new church was trusted to the Order of Christ- of which Henry the Navigator was the Grand Master- to help the seamen that passed by Belém, as the hermitage had done before. In 1501, by order of King D. Manuel I, the Monastery of the Hieronymites started being built and the small church was totally remodelled in the Manueline and Renaissance styles. It was the king's wish that the church should become a pantheon for the dynasty (Avis-Beja) started by him, and that it continued to help the travellers passing through Belém. Like the Monastery, the church was significantly restored in the 19th century. Inside the church are the tombs of several historical figures: Luís de Camões, one of Portugal's greatest poets who lived in the 16th century, Vasco da Gama, the first navigator to go to In...
Read more

The Gates of Mdina, Malta

Image
Mdina walls have three gates: the Mdina Gate, the Greeks Gate and the Gharreqin Gate. The Main Gate, also known as Vilhena gate, was built in 1724, under Grandmaster Antonio Manoel de Vilhena, who in 1722 ordered the renovation and restoration of Mdina. The courtyard behind the main gate was demolished to make way for the Vilhena Palace and a new gate had to be built, a few meters to the left of the old one, which was walled up. The Gate has reliefs of Saint Agatha, Saint Paul and Saint Publius, the three patron saints of Malta. The Greeks Gate is the oldest of the three Gates, dating back to medieval times. It was also renovated in 1724 when an outer portal was built in the baroque style. It is known as the Greeks Gate because a small community of Greeks once lived by the gate. For many years it was the only gate by which the slaves were allowed to enter Mdina. The Gharreqin Gate is the less known and most recent of the three Gates. It was excavated in...
Read more

Hersonissos Roman Fountain, Greece

Image
The Roman Fountain of Hersonissos can be found on the seafront, in the middle of shops and tavernas. It has the shape of a pyramid and is covered by mosaics depicting maritime motifs, such as fishermen, boats, sea serpents, squids, ducks and fish. The fountain dates from the 4th century, when Hersonissos was an important Roman harbour, and is one of the many Roman remains that can be found in the area, many of which, unfortunately, cannot be visited.
Read more