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The Olympic Games took place here every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD. The site was also a place of worship dedicated to the Greek god Zeus from about the 10th century BC. Here you will find incredible sculptures such as the decoration of the temple of Zeus, as well as the famous Hermes of Praxiteles and the statue of Nike of Paionios.
- Early History
- Temple of Zeus
- The Olympic Games
- Decline
First inhabited in the second millennium BCE, the first archaeological record of dwellings dates from 1900 to 1600 BCE. The Kronion hill at the site was perhaps the first place of worship, dedicated to Kronos. However, other sacred buildings at the foot of the hill in the sacred grove of wild olive trees, or Altis, indicate other deities were worsh...
The first large building at the famous ancient sanctuary site was the Heraion, a temple dedicated to Hera built around 650-600 BCE. In the 5th century BCE the sanctuary reached its peak of prosperity, and the massive 6 x 13 column Temple of Zeus was completed in 457 BCE in order to house a huge ivory and gold statue of the leader of the Olympian go...
Sporting events were originally associated with funeral rituals, for example, the funeral games instigated by Achilles in honour of Patroklos in Homer's Iliad. Some mythological accounts credit Zeus with beginning the Games to celebrate his victory over Kronos; other accounts state Pelops began them in honour of Oinomaos. In any case, sport, a heal...
With Emperor Theodosios' decree to prohibit all cult practices and pagan festivals, the Games came to an end in 393 CE after a run of 293 Olympics over more than a millennium. The famous sanctuary site gradually fell into decline, was partially destroyed under the decree of emperor Theodosios II in 426 CE, and was taken over by a Christian communit...
- Mark Cartwright
Map of the Peloponnese region of ancient Greece with Elis, Pisa, and Olympia (underlying map © Google) The people of Elis decided to build a new Temple of Zeus to celebrate their victory. They hired a local architect, Libon of Elis, to plan and build the structure.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are depicted in color on this printable map. Locate the Statue of Zeus, the Temple of Artemis, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colussus of Rhodes, the Pharos of Alexandria, and the Great Pyramid at Giza. Free to download and print.
Olympia. The city of Zeus; eventually, the Greeks instigated a festival of athletic competions every four years there in his honor, which became known as the "Olympics". The artificer Pheidas constructed an awesome temple of Zeus that was completed in 430 BCE and made out of ivory and gold.
From the radiant Apollo, master of the sun and music, to the passionate and unpredictable Aphrodite, goddess of love, our digital sanctuary unveils the captivating stories and intricate relationships that define the Olympian gods.
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Enter the divine pantheon of Olympus, where Zeus, Hera, Athena, and a host of celestial beings reign supreme. Journey alongside heroes like Hercules, Odysseus, and Perseus as they face incredible challenges, confront monsters, and seek immortality.
