Olympia lies in the western Peloponnese, in a green valley where the Alfeios and Kladeos rivers meet. It was never a city but a sanctuary of Zeus, where every four years the Olympic Games were held, traditionally from 776 BC until the late 4th century AD. Earthquakes and floods buried the site under metres of mud until German excavations in the 19th century brought it back to light.
The site
| Monument | What to see |
|---|---|
| Altis | The sacred enclosure with temples and altars |
| Temple of Zeus | The great 5th-century BC Doric temple, its columns toppled by earthquakes; it held Phidias's statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders |
| Temple of Hera (Heraion) | One of the oldest temples in Greece; the Olympic flame is lit in front of it today |
| Stadium | Entered through a vaulted passage, like the ancient athletes; the track is 192 metres long |
| Workshop of Phidias | Where the sculptor made the statue of Zeus, later a church |
| Palaestra and gymnasium | The athletes' training grounds |
| Leonidaion | Guesthouse for distinguished visitors |
| Zanes | Bases of statues of Zeus paid for with fines from cheating athletes |
| Philippeion | Circular monument commissioned by Philip II of Macedon |
The museums
Olympia's Archaeological Museum is one of the finest in Greece: it displays the pediment sculptures of the Temple of Zeus, with the battle of Lapiths and centaurs and the chariot race of Pelops, the Hermes with the infant Dionysus attributed to Praxiteles, the Nike of Paionios and the helmet dedicated by Miltiades, victor of Marathon. The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games covers events, athletes and prizes.
The Olympic flame
A few months before every Olympics, in front of the Temple of Hera, an actress dressed as a priestess lights the flame with the sun's rays focused by a parabolic mirror. The flame then begins its journey to the host city. The same happens for the Winter Games.
Practical information
- Olympia is about three and a half hours by car from Athens and an hour and a half from Patras; the port of Katakolo, a cruise ship stop, is 35 km away.
- The ticket covers the site and museums. The site is partly shaded, but in summer visit at opening time.
- The modern village of Archaia Olympia has hotels and restaurants; Ionian beaches are nearby.
See also the Peloponnese and the ancient Olympic Games.