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Ancient Olympia

The sanctuary of Olympia unfolds on the foot of the hill Kronos, between Alfios and its tributary Kladeo.

The beginnings of the adoration in Olympia are lost in the centuries.

Clues that we have in the region for the exercise of adoration in the region emanate from the Mycenaean period, at which Pelopas and Ippodamia were worshipped, while later on Kronos,Rea,Eilithia Themida and Hercules were also worshipped. At the end of the 4th century B.C, the sanctuary acquires its final form, which suffers interventions and modifications during the Hellenistic and Roman times.

Gymnasium: Rectangle building with an internal courtyard and arcade in the four sides. It was built in the 2nd century B.C. and because of the size of the building, here took place the trainings of the athletes in events that required space, for example the javelin, the road and the discus.

Ring: During the 3rd century B.C a training ring was built for the needs of athletes in the wrestling, high jump and boxing events .A square building with an internal courtyard, allocated divisions for locker rooms, baths, arenas, and an eleothesion.

Theikoleon: The Theikoleon was built in the north of the laboratory, which was useful for the stay of the Theikoleon people, priests of Olympia. In the Roman years a courtyard and a cloister were added.

Heoron: Circular building, westwards of Theokileona, with an altar dedicated to the unknown hero.

Laboratory of Fedia: It is located westwards of the temple and it was specifically built for the needs to manufacture the statue. It is an elongated rectangle building with two internal colonnades. From its surroundings tools and crockery’s uteruses were saved. With the installation of Christian settlements in Olympia, the laboratory was shaped into Christian royalty, in the 5th century A.D.

Baths - Thermes In the 5^th century B.C Baths were built in Kladeo, which are equipped with a subterranean combustion. The western saunas were built near by. The floors were decorated with splendid mosaics.

Leonidaio:In 330 B.C the architect Leonidas, who was from Naxos, donated this particular building, which had rooms on all four sides. These rooms were intended for the hospitality of officials (celebrities) and visitors. The rooms also had a wonderful view of an internal cloistered courtyard. Roman dignitaries made it their home during the roman years.

Roman Baths: These baths were located south of the of Zeus and NW of the Thermes of Leonidaio Their floorings were decorated in mosaics.

Chamber of deputies: Construction began in the 6^th century and it was completed in the 4^th century B.C. It was used to accommodate the seat of the Olympic Parliament House. It was a rectangular edifice with one side being arched. During the 5^th century a second edifice completely identical to the first was built. These two buildings were connected from the east side with another square building which included an Ionic arcade the statue and altar of Zeus were located there

The Temple of Zeus: the colossal temple of Zeus was built in the center of Altis in the 5^th century (470-456 B.C). It was a work of Livona and it was considered a Dorian structure trademark. Doric, a pavilion-like temple had 6 pillars on the narrow sides and 13 on the extended ones. The aerial composition depicts the chariot-races between Inomaou and Pelopa and the clashes of the Lapithon and the Centaurs. The main themes of the metope were the labors of Hercules. The renowned golden ivory statue of Zeus was approximately 12 meters in height portrayed in the temple’s nave was a work of Phedia.The statue depicted Zeus with an olive twig on his head sitting on a throne made of marble in which were chiseled mythological performances of that time. On his right he held Niki who was the deity of Greek mythology and the personification of victory in wars and in athletic events. His left hand bears an eagle on a scepter. With the shutting of the temple (aka Hierou), the statue was transported to Constantinople, where it was completely ravaged by the great fire of Ippodromo in 475 A.D. Paionios work; the gold-plated Niki was positioned in the central pediment of the temple. On both sides of the pediment 2 gold-plated boilermakers are positioned as side pediments.

The Gallery of Echous or Eptaichos: dividing the Stadium in two, the gallery was built alongside the eastern side of Altis in 350 B.C. The entrance and stairs were made of marble. It was also known for its wide range of choice one had going into the gallery (the wide variety gallery).

Its selection included numerous paintings. It possessed 2 colonnades; the exterior one of Dorian order and an interior one of Corinthian order.

Crypti: it was built in the 3^rd century B.C and it is a monumental entrance to the Stadium.

It is a narrow mosaic runway (passage), with a Corinthian pillar for a gate.

The Stadium: it is dated in the 5^th century B.C and it is 3^rd oldest stadium that was built in the Ancient times. This archaic Stadium (stadium 1) stretched all the way through to the balcony of the Thisavron. It was a simple structure without the standard gradient. In the end of the 6^th century B.C the stadium is transferred eastwards and the gradient is molded (stadium2). In the middle of the 5^th century the Stadium is again transferred more eastwards (stadium 3).

In the 4^th century B.C the gallery of Echous is built which disunites permanently the Stadium from the Temple. The Stadium never acquired seats or benches made of stone except for a few guests of honor.

Hippodrome: it has never been excavated and perhaps the Alfios River has washed a segment of it away. Its ellipsoid path must have had a 600-meter length and a 200-meter width.

Zanes: throughout the length of the Thisavron wall existed 16 copper bases of statues, which were devoted to Zeus. Zanes (which is the plural of Zeus) were constructed form money, which was collected from fines imposed on cities or athletes that had violated the laws of the Games.

Mitroo: a pavilion-like temple, which was of Doric architecture, dedicated to Kiveli, was built in full view of the Gallery of the Thisavron. This temple was used for the worship of Roman Emperors during Augustus’ era.

Thisavri(treasures): on the south gradient of Kronos, on the front side of a podium made of limestone which in turn held the ground of the hill, the Thisavri were built. Small temple-like structurewhich were dedicated to various Greek cities and Olympian colonies. Pafsanias reported that there were 10 treasures but ruins left behind indicate the existence of 12 from which 5 treasures coincide with certainty with the treasures of the Sikionion, Selinoundion, Metapondion, Megareon and the Gelon.

Nympheo: a semi-circled shape water reserve from which both sides had 2 circular small temples. The probable two-story stonework was decorated with multicolored marble.The walls were decorated with statues of roman edifices. The well’s water ended up into 2 reservoirs, from which one was high semicircular structure and the other a lower rectangular shaped one. From there the water was channeled to the Temple.

Prehistorical Building: the foundations of an arched edifice of the Greek middle ages were salvaged (2000- 1600 B.C).

Heraion: a Doric styled temple with 6 pillars on the narrow side and 16 on the wider side. It was constructed in the 7^th century B.C and hosted the statues of Zeus and Hera sitting on a throne. Originally wooden, the pillars were then replaced with stone ones. Thus offering us valuable information on the evolution of the style during that period. The renowned statue of Hermes holding young Dionisos, a work of Praxiteli was located there.

The Altar of Hera: is found in front of her temple.

The Altar of Zeus: it was formed from the ashes of the sacrifices and the furnaces of Pritaniou, SE of Hera’s temple. It was ravaged by rain after the closure of the temple.

Pelopio: a small hill, was formed into a cemetery, which was dedicated to Pelopas. Of the Mycenaean era it was initially surrounded by a circular wall, which was later replaced by a monument.

Philipio: Circular pavilion-like edifice. The construction began with Philippe the 2^nd and the battle of Chaironia ( 338 B.C.) it was completed by Alexander the Great. Ionic colonnades surrounded it. In the interior there were gold ivory statues of the Macedonian Dynasty, works of the renowned sculptor Leocharou.

Pritanio: a square building, its construction began in the 5^th century B.C with different structural phases later on. It composed the seat (H.Q) of the Pritanians. A holy furnace existed there where the fire would always burn. On the northern side of the building the feeding of the Pritanians and the Olympic victors during the Games took place.

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