The games at Olympia
began sometime around the 11th century BC as a local festival. 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 would
cease fighting, lay down their arms during the period of the games. Unlike
in today's Olympic Games when countries that are still participating in
wars are allowed to send their athletes to the games!
The events at the games were
athletic. The earliest being a 200 meter race. Later the Pentathlon, Pancratium
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 athletes
were almost all professionals and heavily sponsored and rewarded for their
victories. In 393 AD Emperor Theodosius suspended the games and the temples and
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 nearby.
Although the condition of the site is fairly poor, the building outlines
and the scattered ruins show the various periods of use of this site and
the influence and contributions that the Greek city states, colonies and
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 site.
I won't discuss all the buildings
on this site as there are too many, but there are two temples worth looking
at closely. The Doric Temple of Zeus (photos #3 and) 4 built between 470-456
BC was massive. When you walk by the columns you can only imagine how big
it really was. The smaller Temple of Hera (photo #5) 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 sculptures
including Hermes of Praxiteles. From the Temple of Zeus the frieze of the
Twelve Labors of Hercules and on the west pediment my favorite, the Battle
of Lapiths and Centaurs (photos #6-7). Looking at the size of the individuals
in this scene of sculptures, you can only imagine how huge, impressive the
Temple of Zeus was and the powerful image of Zeus that it portrayed.
Description of Photos:
1. Palaestra - wrestling
school building.
2. The Philippeion - begun
by Philip II to celebrate his victory at Chaeronea and probably competed
by Alexander the Great.
3. Temple of Zeus - enormous
columns of a once grand temple.
4. Temple of Zeus - constructed
between 470-456 BC
5. Temple of Hera -
6th century.
6 & 7. Battle of the
Centaurs at wedding of Perithoos - Temple of Zeus 470-456 BC, west pediment.
8. Olympic Stadium
