Ancient Greek
Ὀλυμπία
Olympia
“Where all Greece gathered every four years, to contend before the god”
Photo: Michael Nicht · CC BY-SA 4.0
Scenes
Meaning
Among olive trees, the giant column drums of the temple lie toppled in a row, and one re-raised column holds up the sky.
Tradition holds this to be a sanctuary of Zeus where, every four years, the cities of all Greece gathered to contend in games honoring the god — the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. At the heart of the sanctuary, the Temple of Zeus is said to have housed a colossal statue of Zeus, counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Field notes
- Location
- Elis · 펠로폰네소스 · N37.6° · E21.6°
- Best time
- Spring and autumn, in the early morning when light seeps through the olive shade
- Getting there
- About a 3.5-hour drive from Athens to the site in the western Peloponnese.
- Etiquette
- Keep to the marked paths to protect the ruins.
Sources
- · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- · UNESCO World Heritage
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