Ancient
Olympia
A powerful & famous ancient Greek city-state
the birthplace of the Olympic Games
The site of
Ancient Olympia
Ancient Olympic Stadium
Olympia, situated in the western Peloponnese, is the birthplace of the Olympic Games, held every four years from 776 BCE in honor of Zeus. The site includes the ancient stadium, temples, and training facilities for athletes.
The Temple of Zeus once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the massive statue of Zeus crafted by Phidias from ivory and gold.
Stadium Entrance
The extensive ruins also feature the Temple of Hera, the Philippeion, and a number of treasuries built by different Greek city-states. Olympia was not just a sporting venue but also a major religious and political center, drawing visitors from across ancient Greece. The ancient stadium, with a capacity of 40,000 spectators is where the Olympic Games took place every four years, beginning in 776 BCE, cultivating unity and competition among Greek city-states. The Olympia Archaeological Museum houses many artifacts from the site, found during excavations, including sculptures from the Temple of Zeus and items used in the games providing insight into the custom and history of these great athletic events.
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See some other interesting places close to Tolo, explore archaeological sites in the Nafplio area or see our beaches in Argolida page for some inspiration…
