7. Tour of Olympia

1. Tour of Olympia
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2. Map of some cities which sent competitors 5th Century

3. Olympia: Aerial view of site and surroundings, from W
Photograph by Raymond V. Schoder, S.J., courtesy of Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers

4. Altis
In contrast to most Greek sites,
Olympia is green and lush,
amidst groves of trees. Here
was the great Sanctuary of
Zeus, the Altis, and the setting
for the Olympic Games. For
over a thousand years, in peace
and war, the Greeks assembled
here to celebrate this great
festival. The simple crown of
wild olive was sufficient to
immortalize the victor, his
family, and his city.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/site_1.html

5. The earliest building remains at Olympia are a
cluster of Bronze Age houses at the base of the
Kronos hill.
Photograph courtesy of the Department of Archaeology, Boston University, Saul S. Weinberg Collection

6. According to legend, the hero Pelops entered a chariot
race with King Oinomaos to compete for the hand of
Oinomaos' daughter Hippodamia in marriage.
Hippodamia fell in love with Pelops and convinced
her father's groom to sabotage the racing chariot by
removing the linchpins attaching the wheels. After
Oinomaos' chariot was destroyed and he was dragged
to his death by his horses, Pelops became king and
ruled over the region, which he called the
Peloponnese after himself. Today, the southern part of
the Greek mainland is still called by this name.

7. Temple of Hera
The temple of Hera was built in a
system of regular proportions, so
that many of the parts related to one
another harmoniously. The width-to-
length ratio of the temple was 3:8,
and the number of pillars seen from
the front and back (6) and the
number seen from the sides (16)
were in the same proportion. Also,
the height of the columns was half
the width of the temple's internal
chamber, the cella.
Olympia, Temple of Hera: overall view from E
Photograph courtesy of the Department of Archaeology, Boston University, Saul S.
Weinberg Collection

8. The Treasuries
Treasuries were built at
Olympia by some of the
Greek city-states, starting in
about 600 B.C. They served
as elaborate storehouses for
valuable objects, many of
them votive offerings which
were given by people or
cities to honor and thank the
gods for blessings. Money
was also deposited at
Olympia, possibly in the
treasuries.
Olympia, Treasury of the Sikyonians: Column from porch
Photograph by Michael Bennett

9. The Temple of
Zeus
The Temple of Zeus, completed
in 456 BC, was one of the largest
temples in Greece, and perhaps
the most renowned example of
Doric architecture in the Classical
world. Today, none of the
columns remain standing;
earthquakes have taken their toll.
The sculptures, however, are the
best preserved of their era. One
depicted the chariot race between
Oinomaos and Pelops, with Zeus
presiding in the center.
Olympia, Temple of Zeus: fallen columns from S of temple
Photograph by Michael Bennett

10. The Stadium and the
Events
The first Olympic event, and
the only event for the first 13
Olympiads, was the foot-race,
over a distance of one stade. By
Classical times, there were 18
contests, including boxing,
wrestling, horse races, and the
pentathlon, as well as additional
running events.Olympia, Stadium: view through vaulted
entrance from E, inside stadium
Photograph courtesy of Frederick Hemans

11. Palaestra
The palaestra was
added in the fourth
century as a place for
boxers and wrestlers
to train, and north of
it was the
gymnasium.
Olympia, Palaestra: overall view from W, across Kladeos River
Photograph courtesy of the Department of Archaeology,
Boston University, Saul S. Weinberg Collection