Description of the attraction
At the confluence of two rivers - Alfios and Kladeos, Olympia was founded, for thousands of years it served as the sanctuary of Zeus and the venue for sports competitions - the Olympic Games.
The Temple of Zeus was built around 470 BC. architect and sculptor Phidias. Fragments of the foundation and fragments of columns that have survived to our times make it possible to appreciate the grandeur of this structure. In ancient times, the temple was decorated with marble and painted. Inside the temple was the famous statue of Zeus, the work of Phidias. It was made of gold, ivory and wood and was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Phidias worked on this statue in a special building - the Workshop, which was later converted into a Christian church.
Nearby was the temple of Hera, the oldest surviving on the territory of Greece (beginning of the 6th century BC), all the capitals of the columns of which are very different from each other. The fire is lit here for the modern Olympic Games.
Also preserved is Philippe - a round building, the construction of which was begun by Tsar Philip II and completed under Alexander the Great.
Training took place on the territory of the gymnasium. The nearby palestra served for dressing, washing and resting athletes. There was also a dining room and a library. Leonidion is the largest building in Olympia. Its purpose is a hotel for distinguished guests of the games. Leonidion consists of an outer colonnade, a square-shaped building and an inner colonnade. A pool with a small island was dug in the center of the courtyard.
The famous Olympic stadium looks like a very elongated hollow. There were no tribunes here, and spectators watched the games directly from the grassy slopes around the stadium.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia contains priceless finds from the excavations of the ancient city. This is one of the richest museums in Greece. The exhibits are presented in chronological order, from prehistoric times to the Roman period.
