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At the entrance was a fascinating model of the Sanctuary of Olympia, at its peak.

Closer view, looking northwest.

In 391 AD, the Christian Roman emperor Theodosius I banned participation in pagan cults and closed the temples. The sanctuary at Olympia fell into disuse.

Archaeological evidence suggests that small scale Olympic events (perhaps in Christian guise) were still being held secretly until Justinian's plague and two earthquakes devastated the place mid 6th century. Repeated floods ensured that the settlement was finally abandoned altogether in the early 7th Century.

Over time the site was buried under alluvial deposits, up to 26 feet deep.

The exact site was re-discovered in 1766 by the English antiquarian Richard Chandler. Since then, the site was visited by several other antiquarian-travellers.

The first excavation was not carried out until 1829, when the French archaeologists of the "Expedition Scientifique de Morée" arrived on the site of the sanctuary at Olympia on 10 May 1829.

Since the 1870s, the excavation and preservation of Ancient Olympia has been the responsibility of the German Archaeological Institute at Athens. The first major excavation of Olympia began in 1875, funded by the German government.

All in all, the ancient Olympic Games went on for an astounding 1,169 years. They "live on today in the spirit of the modern Olympic Games, revived in Athens in 1896." ... Rick Steves

A bronze cauldron-with-legs, used as gifts to the gods and to victorious atheletes. Probably created towards the end of the 8th century BC. It would have had five bulls head around the lip; but only one has survived.

Surviving pediment fragments.

This statue of Victory -- created in 421 BC -- once stood aatop the triangular Pedestal of Nike next to the Temple of Zeus.

West pediment description.

Close-up of a ferocious centaur in combat.

Bronze statuette of a horse. Early fifth century BC.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated figure, about 41 ft tall, made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, and erected in the Temple of Zeus there. Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus.

The statue was a chryselephantine sculpture of ivory plates and gold panels on a wooden framework. Zeus sat on a painted cedarwood throne ornamented with ebony, ivory, gold, and precious stones. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The statue was lost and destroyed before the end of the 6th century AD, with conflicting accounts of the date and circumstances. Details of its form are known only from ancient Greek descriptions and representations on coins and art.

Close-up of the bull that stood in the middle of the Nymphaeum fountain. The inscriptions explain the fountain's origins.

April 27, 2025 - Greece Ancient Olympics Archeological Museum
After touring the Sanctuary of Olympia, we checked out the Archaeological Museum.

At the entrance was a fascinating model of the Sanctuary of Olympia, at its peak.

But first, an aerial museum of the site present-day. At center is the Temple of Hera. At center right is the Temple of Zeus. At upper left is the stadium, where most of the actual games took place.

The Temple of Zeus is prominent, surrounded by -- starting at lower left and proceeding counter-clockwise -- the Gymnasium, Palaestra, Workshop of Pheidiias, Leonnidaion, Bouleuterion, Echo Hall, Staium, Row of Treasuries, Metroon, Nymphaeum, Temple of Hera and Philippeion. Kronos Hill is at upper left. Looking east.

Looking north.

Closer view, looking northwest.

Looking east.

In 391 AD, the Christian Roman emperor Theodosius I banned participation in pagan cults and closed the temples. The sanctuary at Olympia fell into disuse. Archaeological evidence suggests that small scale Olympic events (perhaps in Christian guise) were still being held secretly until Justinian's plague and two earthquakes devastated the place mid 6th century. Repeated floods ensured that the settlement was finally abandoned altogether in the early 7th Century. Over time the site was buried under alluvial deposits, up to 26 feet deep. The exact site was re-discovered in 1766 by the English antiquarian Richard Chandler. Since then, the site was visited by several other antiquarian-travellers. The first excavation was not carried out until 1829, when the French archaeologists of the "Expedition Scientifique de Morée" arrived on the site of the sanctuary at Olympia on 10 May 1829. Since the 1870s, the excavation and preservation of Ancient Olympia has been the responsibility of the German Archaeological Institute at Athens. The first major excavation of Olympia began in 1875, funded by the German government. All in all, the ancient Olympic Games went on for an astounding 1,169 years. They "live on today in the spirit of the modern Olympic Games, revived in Athens in 1896." ... Rick Steves

Works of art and artifacts recovered at the Santuary of Olympia now reside in this museum. This is a bronze female winged figure, created between 590 and 580 BC..

A bronze cauldron-with-legs, used as gifts to the gods and to victorious atheletes. Probably created towards the end of the 8th century BC. It would have had five bulls head around the lip; but only one has survived.

A bronze lion's head, perhaps attached to a ceremonial shield or on a building. 8th century BC.

The apex of each pediment of the Temple of Hera was crowned by a terracotta discoid acroterion -- of Disk of the Sun -- perhaps symbolizing the sun or some other heavenly body. It would have been painted in bright colors.

Bronze helmets from the 8th century BC;

Another look.

Pediment and surviving sculptures on one of the Treasuries buildings.

Surviving pediment fragments.

A terracotta statue of Zeus carrying off the beautiful Trojan boy Ganymede. This was probably a rooftop decoration on top of one of the treasury houses.

An Etrusian helmet on the left and Corinthian helmet, made in an Italian workshop, on the right.

This statue of Victory -- created in 421 BC -- once stood aatop the triangular Pedestal of Nike next to the Temple of Zeus.

Sculptures from the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus: Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs.

West pediment description.

Close-up of a ferocious centaur in combat.



Sculptures from the east pediment of the Temple of Zeus: the Chariot Race of Phelops and Oinomaos.

Everything you wanted to know about the east pediment.



Bronze battering ram of a Greek tyreme, the only surviving one in history. Probably made in a Sicilian workshop in the first half of the 5th century BC.

Bronze statuette of a horse. Early fifth century BC.

Standing in front of an Artist's reconstruction of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated figure, about 41 ft tall, made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, and erected in the Temple of Zeus there. Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. The statue was a chryselephantine sculpture of ivory plates and gold panels on a wooden framework. Zeus sat on a painted cedarwood throne ornamented with ebony, ivory, gold, and precious stones. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The statue was lost and destroyed before the end of the 6th century AD, with conflicting accounts of the date and circumstances. Details of its form are known only from ancient Greek descriptions and representations on coins and art.
				Hermes of Praxiteles
Model of the workshop of Pheidias. Look how tall it is, big enough to construct the Statue of Zeus that would go into the temple.

Artist conception -- Quatremère de Quincy (1815). -- of the statue of Zeus.

Statue of Hermes of Praxiteles (340-330 BC), found during an excavation at the Temple of Hera in 1877. The messenger of the Gods, charged by Zeus to take the infant Dionysos to the Nymphs, who were to nurse him, rests on the way having thrown his cloak over a tree trunk. In his raised right arm he is probably holding a bunch of grapes, a symbol associated with the future god of wine. Dionysos reaches out for it.

Notice the highly polished surface.

This room contains some of the surviving statues from the Nymphaeum -- the grand semicircular fountain near the Temple of Hera that had two tiers of statues, including Roman emperors. The bull at center stood in the middle of the fountain.

Close-up of the bull that stood in the middle of the Nymphaeum fountain. The inscriptions explain the fountain's origins.

One of the Nymphaeum statues is of Roman emperor Hadrian (117 - 138 AD).

Unknown artist's conception of ancient Olypia. Then.

And now. Aerial picture by Panosgti34, downloaded from Wikipedia.


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April 27, 2025 - Greece Ancient Olympics Archeological Museum

April 27, 2025 - Greece
Ancient Olympics Archeological Museum