The mythology of Olympia is as rich as its ruins, for the sanctuary was woven through with legends that explained the origin of the Olympic Games and bound them to the gods. Several founding myths were told: that Zeus himself founded the Games after defeating his father Kronos; that his son Herakles established them after … Read more
Kaiafas Lake is one of the loveliest and most unusual spots in the western Peloponnese, a tranquil wetland at the foot of Mount Lapithas in southern Ilia, famous for its healing thermal springs, its long pine-backed beach and its ancient mythology. The sulphur springs that rise beside the lake have been prized for their curative … Read more
The sanctuary of Ancient Olympia was far more than the Temple of Zeus and the stadium. Within and around the sacred Altis stood a whole complex of monuments serving the worship of the gods and the running of the Olympic Games: the great ash Altar of Zeus, the ancient shrine of Pelops, the council house … Read more
Archaia Olympia is the modern town that sits beside the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia, a green and welcoming village nestled in the valley of the Alpheios river among wooded hills. A short walk from the ruins, it offers a main street of tavernas, cafés and shops, several museums, a winery and easy access to … Read more
Katakolo is a small, colourful port town on the west coast of the Peloponnese, best known as the cruise gateway to Ancient Olympia. Though most visitors pass straight through it on their way inland to the great sanctuary, Katakolo is a pleasant place in its own right, with a walkable seafront of tavernas, cafés and … Read more
The Olympic flame lighting ceremony is one of the most evocative rituals in the modern world, and it takes place at the very heart of Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Games. Before every Olympic Games, summer and winter, a high priestess and a group of priestesses gather at the altar before the Temple of Hera, … Read more
The Workshop of Pheidias at Ancient Olympia is one of the most remarkable buildings on the site, for it is where the sculptor Pheidias created the colossal gold-and-ivory Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Standing just west of the sacred Altis, directly opposite the Temple of Zeus, the workshop … Read more
The Palaestra and Gymnasium at Ancient Olympia were the training grounds where the athletes of the Olympic Games prepared for their contests. The Palaestra was a fine colonnaded building for the combat sports of wrestling, boxing and the pankration, its sanded courtyard ringed by rooms where athletes oiled, dusted and washed. The larger Gymnasium beside … Read more
The Philippeion is one of the most elegant and unusual monuments at Ancient Olympia, a graceful circular building set in the sacred Altis beside the Temple of Hera. Begun by Philip II of Macedon after his victory that made him master of Greece, and completed by his son Alexander the Great, it held gold-and-ivory statues … Read more
Ancient Olympia is one of the easiest and most rewarding ancient sites in Greece to visit with children. The site is flat, open and safe, so families explore it freely, and its greatest thrill for children is running the ancient stadium where the Olympic Games were first held thousands of years ago. Add small, engaging … Read more