Ancient Olympia - Day 5
Worshipping Zeus, Hera and Hermes
"With soft foliage, Apollo shapes and binds his flowing locks,
braiding it with golden diadem; his weapons sound on his shoulders"
– Vergil, Aeneid -
braiding it with golden diadem; his weapons sound on his shoulders"
– Vergil, Aeneid -
One of the highlights of the Peloponnese peninsula
is the ancient site of Olympia.
The original Olympic Games, were first held here, in 8th century B.C.
These huge grounds hold ruins of temples
as well as stadiums, training areas, and dwellings.
Wandering through the site, we were in awe
of the sheer size of the the columns and temples!
All to worship the gods!
The Temple of Zeus The Temple of Zeus at Olympia consists of classical Doric style columns. It was the largest and most important building at Olympia. |
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"I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare.
Queen of the Immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty:
she is the sister and wife of loud-thundering Zeus,
-the glorious one whom all the blessed
throughout high Olympus reverence and honour
even as Zeus who delights in thunder."
- Homeric Hymn 12 to Hera (trans. Evelyn-White)
(Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.)
The Temple of Hera
This temple is one of the oldest monuments in Greece.
It was originally built for Zeus and his wife, Hera.
When the great Temple of Zeus was constructed,
this temple became solely dedicated to Hera.
"I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare.
Queen of the Immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty:
she is the sister and wife of loud-thundering Zeus,
-the glorious one whom all the blessed
throughout high Olympus reverence and honour
even as Zeus who delights in thunder."
- Homeric Hymn 12 to Hera (trans. Evelyn-White)
(Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.)
The Temple of Hera
This temple is one of the oldest monuments in Greece.
It was originally built for Zeus and his wife, Hera.
When the great Temple of Zeus was constructed,
this temple became solely dedicated to Hera.
Nike of Paionios
This is the original base that supported the Nike of Paionios statue that is housed is the Olympia Archeological museum. |
The Palaestra
A palaestra was the place where Greek athletes trained for wrestling, and boxing. |
The Philippeion
- dedicated to Zeus
The Philippeion is a small Ionic circular memorial to Philip of Macedon and his family (including his son Alexander the Great).
The Philippeion
- dedicated to Zeus
The Philippeion is a small Ionic circular memorial to Philip of Macedon and his family (including his son Alexander the Great).
The Olympic Stadium
Deryl and Eric and Sharlene and I (our good friends from a previous RS tour)
posing under the Krypte arch.
There was only one way to enter the stadium - through the Krypte tunnel.
We could imagine the crowds cheering as we entered!
posing under the Krypte arch.
There was only one way to enter the stadium - through the Krypte tunnel.
We could imagine the crowds cheering as we entered!
How thrilling to be at the starting line of such an ancient Olympic stadium!
Fellow traveller, Rick, is wayyy over on the other side which shows how the large the stadium really is.
Fellow traveller, Rick, is wayyy over on the other side which shows how the large the stadium really is.
Archeological Museum of Olympia Artifacts
"Muse, sing of Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia, rich in flocks, the luck-bringing messenger of the immortals....." - Hymn 4 to Hermes - |
Hermes and the Infant Dionysus
According to the myth, Dionysus was the only god born from a mortal mother and Zeus. To save Dionysus from Hera's wrath, Zeus gave the infant Dionysus to the care of Hermes. |
The Bronze Helment of Miltiades
One of the most important archeological finds in world history was the bronze helmet of Miltiades, which was discovered in the Temple of Zeus.
Emperor Hadrian
The marble statue of Emperor Hadrian was discovered inside the ruins of the Temple of Hera.
At the centre of his tunic is Athena, flanked by a she-wolf and her cubs.
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