The archaeological
site of Olympia includes the sanctuary of Zeus and the many
buildings erected around it, such as athletic premises used for
the preparation and celebration of the Olympic Games,
administrative buildings and other lay buildings and monuments.
The Altis, the sacred enclosure and core of the sanctuary, with
its temples, cult buildings and treasuries, occupies the centre of
the site. It is surrounded by a peribolos, or enclosure wall,
which in the late fourth century BC had three gates on its west
side and two on the south, and is bordered on the east by the Echo
Stoa, which separates the sacred precinct from the stadium. The
enclosure wall was extended in Roman times and two monumental
entrances were created on its west side.
The Classical Temple of Zeus and the earlier Temple of Hera
dominate the Altis. East of the Heraion is the Metro?n, a temple
dedicated to Cybele, the mother of the gods, and behind this, on
the foot of Mount Kronios, a row of treasuries dedicated by Greek
cities and colonies. To their west lies the Nymphaion, a splendid
fountain dedicated by Herodes Atticus. South of the Heraion and
over the remains of the prehistoric settlement of Olympia is the
Pelopion, a funerary monument commemorating the hero Pelops. Also
within the Altis are the Prytaneion, the see of the sanctuary
officials, and the Philippeion, an elegant circular building
dedicated by Philip II, king of Macedon. Southeast of the Heraion
was the great altar of Zeus, a most important monument entirely
made of ashes and therefore now completely lost. The remaining
space inside the Altis was filled with numerous altars and statues
of gods, heroes and Olympic winners dedicated by Greek cities or
wealthy individuals, such as the Nike of Paionios.
Outside the sacred precinct of the Altis, to its south, are the
Bouleutherion and the South Stoa, the southernmost building of the
greater sanctuary and its main entrance from the south. West of
the Altis and separated from it by the Sacred Road is a series of
buildings for the sanctuary personnel, the athletes and the
distinguished visitors: the gymnasium and palaestra, exercise
grounds, the Workshop of Pheidias which in Late Antiquity was
transformed into a Christian church, the Greek baths with their
swimming pool, the Roman hot baths, the Theokoleion or priests'
residence, the Leonidaion or officials' quarters, and the Roman
hostels.
East of the Altis lies the stadium where the Olympic Games were
held. South of the stadium was the hippodrome, of which no trace
remains as it was swept away by the Alpheios. South of the
hippodrome is a group of mansions and baths, including the famous
House of Nero, built by the emperor for his stay at Olympia during
his participation in the games.
Author
Olympia Vikatou,archaeologist |