The Mole visits Olympia – where it all began
The most amazing part of arriving on the Costa Fortuna in Katakalon in the Peloponesse area of Greece is that you would never guess what an unbelievable reality check you will be getting some kilometres way when you visit the ancient Greek site of Olympia.
The best way to see and experience Olympia from your PC, before you book to go there, is to have look at the amazing video and guided tour of Olympia with an amazingly knowledgeable guide generously provided by Sydney based Greece and Mediterranean Travel, the undoubted leading experts in Australia on travel Greece and the Mediterranean.
Olympia is described as a sanctuary of ancient Greece and is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, held every Olympiad, that is every four years…….and this is the first reality check, with the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC.
The sanctuary, known as the Altis, consists of an unordered arrangement of various buildings and enclosed within the temenos, the sacred enclosure are the Temple of Hera and the Temple of Zeus, the Pelopion and the area of the altar, where the sacrifices were made, with the hippodrome and later stadium located to the east.
To the north of the sanctuary can be found the Prytaneion and the Philippeion, as well as the array of treasuries representing the various city states, with The Metroon liying to the south of these treasuries, with the Echo Stoa to the East.
To the south of the sanctuary is the South Stoa and the Bouleuterion, whereas the West side houses the Palaestra, the workshop of Pheidias, the Gymnasion and the Leonidaion.
Olympia is also known for the gigantic ivory and gold statue of Zeus that used to stand there, sculpted by Pheidias, which was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Antipater of Sidon.
Very close to the Temple of Zeus which housed this statue, the studio of Pheidias was excavated in the 1950’s and evidence found there, such as sculptor’s tools, corroborates this opinion.
The ancient ruins sit north of the Alfeios River and Mount Kronos [named after the Greek deity Kronos] and the Kladeos, a tributary of the Alfeios, flows around the area.
There is also a stunning museum with original statues and artifacts which gives some idea of the scale of the location in its prime….just amazing!
The whole area is just surreal, an amazing experience and you simply have to visit Olympia!
To speak with the specialists on travel to Greece and Mediterranean Travel visit: www.greecemedtravel.com
A Report by The Mole on location in Europe – brought to you by Greece and Mediterranean Travel
John Alwyn-Jones
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