Olympia, Greece

Main article: Olympic Games

Further information: History of the Olympic Games

Location and History

Olympia, Greece, officially called Archaia Olympia, is a small town in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula. It is famous because nearby is an important archaeological site where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. These games started again in 1894 to honor peaceful competition.

The Sacred Area

The sacred area, called the Altis, was mainly dedicated to Zeus, though other gods were also worshipped there. People from all over ancient Greece came to the games, helping to build a shared Greek identity. Even though it is called Olympia, it is not near Mount Olympus, where the twelve Olympians were believed to live.

Important Buildings

The site includes over 760 important buildings, many of which still have ruins. One special place is the Pelopion, thought to be the tomb of the legendary king Pelops. Another key spot is the stadium, where the first games were held in the 720s BCE. This stadium’s length became the standard stadion, an ancient unit of distance. Today, the stadium is sometimes used again for Olympic events. The town of Olympia helps visitors explore this amazing site, which often has ongoing excavations.

Ancient site

Olympia is in the valley of the Alfeiós River in the western part of the Peloponnese. In ancient times, it was a very important religious place. It had many temples, altars, and statues for different gods. Unlike Delphi, the buildings at Olympia covered a larger area.

The most famous building was the Temple of Zeus. It held a huge statue of Zeus made of ivory and gold. This statue was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The sacred area, called the Altis, was mainly for Zeus. It included important temples like the Temple of Hera and open spaces for ceremonies and games.

History

For a history of the Olympic Games, see Olympic Games and Ancient Olympic Games.

Olympia has a long and rich history. The first Olympic Games were held there in 776 BC, organized by the people of Elis. Over the years, many important buildings were built, like temples and stadiums.

During the Roman period, more buildings were added, and the games were open to all people in the Roman Empire. Sadly, the games stopped in 393 AD when a ruler banned them. Even after that, Olympia stayed an important place until it was left empty.

Archaeology

The site of Ancient Olympia was hidden underground for many years under soil and sand. Today, we know old sea waves may have buried it, not just river floods. People began finding the site again in the 1700s. In 1829, French scientists started the first proper dig. They found important buildings like the Temple of Zeus.

Later, from 1875 to 1881, German archaeologists took over. They uncovered many treasures, such as statues and bronze items. They found famous sculptures like the Nike of Paeonius and the Hermes of Praxiteles. Digs continued through the years, with exciting finds like a bronze bull idol found near the temple of Zeus in 2021. These discoveries help us learn about the ancient Olympic Games and the sacred place where they were held.

Modern Olympia

The ancient site of the Olympic Games is part of a place called Olympia. Today, it is known as Archaia Olympia, meaning "Ancient Olympia." In 2011, it joined with three other areas to become a larger town, but it still uses its special name. The town has a railway station and roads, including the EO74 road. It is near other places like Tripoli, Arcadia, and Krestena.

Archaia Olympia now means both the larger town and one of its parts. The larger town covers a big area of 545.121 km², while the smaller part is 178.944 km². It includes many small communities and villages. The land around Olympia is mostly used for farming, especially growing olive trees.

Notable people

Olympia has been home to many important people throughout history. Notable individuals include Vyronas Davos, a historian and poet, and Panagiotis Kondylis, a modern Greek thinker and philosopher. Another famous resident was Nikos Konstantopoulos, a well-known politician.

When Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, passed away in 1937, a monument was erected in his honor at ancient Olympia. His heart was buried at this monument, following the example of Evangelis Zappas, whose head is buried under a statue in front of the Zappeion.

Reinstitution of the games

After the ancient Olympic Games stopped in 394 AD, their spirit stayed alive. The games started again in 1894, inspired by old traditions of peaceful competition. Today, the Olympic flame for the Olympic Games is lit using sunlight in front of the Temple of Hera before being taken to the event location. During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the shot put competitions were held at the Olympia stadium.

Buildings and monuments in Olympia have been shown on special coins. For example, a €100 Greek coin from 2003 had the Crypt of Olympia, a passage athletes used to enter the stadium.