The games at Olympia
began sometime around the 11th century BC as a local and religious
festival and event. Unlike today's games which have become very
commercial in nature and highly extravagant. Over the
next two hundred years it would be attended by the states from the rest
of the Greek world. The tradition was that all participating states
cease fighting, lay down their arms during the period of the games. In
today's Olympic Games countries that are at war can still participate
although boycotts by counties in the past with regards to political
differences have occurred.
The events at the games were
athletic. The earliest being a 200 meter race. Later the Pentathlon,
and chariot races were added. At first only free-born Greek males were
allowed to participate and the victor would receive an honorary award.
A palm at the end of the contest and an olive branch at the end of the
games. By the 4th century BC when the games were at their peak, the
were almost all professionals and heavily sponsored and rewarded for
victories. In 393 AD Emperor Theodosius suspended the games and the
buildings were eventually destroyed soon after by future emperors,
invaders and earthquakes.
The ruins at Olympia are
extensive with numerous temples, buildings and an excellent museum
Although the condition of the site is fairly poor, the building
and the scattered ruins show the various periods of use of this site
the influence and contributions that the Greek city states, colonies
the Romans all had on Olympia. When visiting this site, you really need
an outline as a reference or a tour guide to understand this
I won't discuss all the buildings
on this site as there are too many, but there are two temples worth
at closely. The Doric Temple of Zeus built between 470-456
BC was massive. When you walk by the columns you can only imagine how
it really was. The smaller Temple of Hera rebuilt in the 6th
century is the best preserved temple on the site.
The museum near the site
is worth visiting because it contains some finest Classical Greek
including Hermes of Praxiteles. From the Temple of Zeus the frieze of
Twelve Labors of Hercules and on the west pediment my favorite, the
of Lapiths and Centaurs. Looking at the size of the individuals
in this scene of sculptures, you can only imagine how huge, impressive
Temple of Zeus was and the powerful image of Zeus that it portrayed.
short video on Greece and the Greek Islands