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| A traveller will encounter the site of the Ancient Olympic games when in western Peloponnese. The sanctuary, one of the most important in the ancient world was dedicated to the most important God of the Olympic Pantheon, Zeus. The columns in the picture are from Phillipeion an Ionic circular that contained statues of Phillip, his son Alexander the Great and other members of the royal family. |
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The most important Temple in
Olympia was dedicated to the supreme God of the sky Zeus. The temple was an example of fully developed
Doric order classical Greek temple. It
housed the statue of Zeus sculpted by Phidias
was the most famous artistic work in Greece.
Zeus sculpture was one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
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The sculpture, Hermes of
Praxiteles, was found where Pausanias had seen it in the late 2nd century
AD. Hermes the messenger of the Gods is
carrying the child Dionysus to the nymphs is the creation of the famous
sculptor Praxiteles. The statue is
today exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
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The Olympic flame commemorated Prometheus’
gift to humans and was kept lit throughout the Olympic games. In modern times a
torch is lit in Ancient Olympia several months in advance of the opening
ceremony. It is transported with a relay
from Greece to the designated stadium in the host country. Eleven women, representing the Vestal Virgins perform the torch
ceremony at the Temple of Hera in sanctuary of Olympia.
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Running events like the 200 and
400 meters were among the most popular in the Ancient Games as they are today. Two young runners recreate the 400-meter
event a two times run the length of the stadium.
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Other
events were boxing and the Pankration
a sport based on boxing and wrestling with hardly any
rules. Biting and gouging ot the opponent
eyes were not permitted. The term comes from the Greek word –παγκράτιον - that means
"all might”.
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Other
popular sports were long jump, shot put, javelin, pentathlon and equestrian
events.
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