The Archaeological Site of Olympia
This UNESCO World Heritage site is where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years from 776 BCE.
The Ancient Olympic Stadium:
Walk through the stone archway to enter the original stadium and even stand on the starting line where ancient athletes once competed in the stade race (a sprint of about 192 meters). The judges’ seats are also still visible. The Temple of Zeus:
Once the largest temple in the Peloponnese, it housed the colossal, gold-and-ivory Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While the statue is long gone, the scale of the fallen columns gives a sense of the temple’s former majesty. The Temple of Hera:
One of the oldest temples in Greece, this is where the Olympic flame is lit using a parabolic mirror for the modern Olympic Games ceremony. The Palaestra and Gymnasium:
Explore the training grounds where wrestlers, boxers, and other athletes prepared for the competitions in the large central courtyards and surrounding porticoes. Pheidias’ Workshop:
This is where the sculptor Pheidias created the famous Statue of Zeus. The building was later converted into a Christian church in the early Byzantine era. The Philippeion:
A circular memorial building initiated by Philip II of Macedon and completed by his son, Alexander the Great, to commemorate their family’s victories.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia
The museum, located just a short walk from the ruins, displays many of the masterpieces found during excavations, providing essential context for the site. Hermes and the Infant Dionysus:
This renowned marble statue, attributed to the sculptor Praxiteles, is a masterpiece of Classical Greek art. Nike of Paionios:
This celebrated statue of the goddess of victory once stood on a tall pedestal in the sanctuary and is a key example of the “rich style” of sculpture. Sculptures from the Temple of Zeus Pediments and Metopes:
These large, intact sculptures depict mythological scenes, including the chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos (East Pediment) and the battle between the Lapiths and Centaurs (West Pediment), as well as the Labours of Heracles (metopes). The Helmet of Miltiades:
A bronze helmet dedicated to Zeus by the Athenian general Miltiades after the Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, complete with an inscription. Collection of Bronzes:
The museum has one of the richest collections of ancient Greek bronzes in the world, including figurines, cauldrons, and weapons.
Lunch at Olympia
Enjoy local delicacies at the modern days town of Olympia before heading back to Athens.