OLYMPIA, a
sanctuary of ancient
GREECE in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic
Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian
games held in
Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad (i.e. every
four years), the Olympic Games dating back possibly
further than 776 BC. In 394 emperor Theodosius I, or possibly his
grandson Theodosius II in 435, abolished them because they were reminiscent of paganism.
The
sanctuary itself consists of an unordered arrangement of various buildings. To the
north of the sanctuary can be
found the prytaneion and the Philippeion, as well as the
array of treasuries representing the various city states. The metroon
lies to the
south of these treasuries, with the
Echo Stoa to the East. To the
South of the sanctuary is the South Stoa and the Bouleuterion, whereas the
West side houses the palaistra,
the workshop of Pheidias, the Gymnasion and the Leonidaion. Enclosed within the temenos are the temples of Hera and Zeus, the
Pelopion and the
area of the
altar, where the sacrifices were
made.
The hippodrome and later
stadium were also to the East.
Source:
Wikipedia
; "Olympia")
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