1. PANATHENAIC STADIUM

2. • The Panathenaic Stadium or Kallimarmaro
in Athens, Greece has multiple purposes.
One of the main attractions of Athens, it is
the only stadium in the world built entirely
of marble.
• The stadium began to be constructed in
1869 and hosted the Zappas Olympics in
1870 and 1875. After being refurbished, the
opening and closing ceremonies of the first
modern Olympics in 1896 took place there.

3. • Τhe stadium was built ιnside a natural ravine
formed by the two hills of Agra and Ardittos
south of the Ylissos river. It is located in a
central district of Athens (Pagrati) near the
National Garden and the Zappeion Megaron.
• Until the 1950s, the llissos River, which is now
covered by and flowing underneath the Vasileos
Konstantinou Avenue, ran in front of the
stadium’s entrance.

4. • Originally, since the sixth
century BC, a racecourse
stood at the site. Τhe
Panathenaic games, a
religious and athletic
festival celebrated every
four years in honour of the
goddess Athena were held
there.
• Spectators sat on the
natural slopes of the
ravine, as the
racecourse had no
formal seating.

5. • This stadium has had two
reconstructions:
• The Reconstruction by Herodes
Atticus. He built the stadium
completely of ashlar masonry in
Pentelic marble, using minimal
concrete.
• Modern reconstruction.
Following Greece’s
independence, archaeological
excavation as early as 1836
uncovered traces of the stadium
of the Herodes Atticus. Some
marbles of the stadium and four
Hermai were found.

6. END