Ancient Olympia

Located in the western Peloponnese in the fertile valley of the river Alpheios, the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia was a major Panhellenic cult place. Cult activity can be traced back to the eleventh century bce. Its initial focus was an Early Helladic tumulus still visible at the end of the Bronze Age. “Black layers” of earth mixed with ash, charcoal, and abundant dedicatory material detected throughout the northwestern section of the Altis, the sacred precinct of Zeus, testify to the cult activity there during the Protogeometric, Geometric, and Early Archaic periods. The cult centered on an ash altar inside the Altis. At least until the Classical period, an oracle of Zeus operated at the ash altar. On the occasion of the great festival of Zeus, which took place every four years during summer, prestigious athletic and equestrian contests, the Olympic Games, were held. By the end of the seventh century bce, the sanctuary had developed into an important meeting place for visitors and athletes from the entire Greek world. Around 600 bce, the construction of the first temple, presumably dedicated to Hera, marked the beginning of the monumentalization of the sanctuary. At an unknown date in the Archaic period, probably during the sixth century bce, the Eleans seized direct control of Olympia and the surrounding region. The Temple of Zeus with its sculptural decoration was largely completed by 456 bce. In the 430s bce, Phidias created the cult image for the temple, a colossal chryselephantine statue of Zeus. The multitude of victory and other monuments erected by Greek poleis testifies to the Panhellenic importance of Olympia as a place of display. During the Late Classical and Hellenistic periods, the infrastructure of the sanctuary was improved by the construction of the Leonidaion, the South Stoa, the Palaestra, and the Gymnasium. Several bath complexes, partly superseding older thermal buildings, were added in the Roman imperial period. The last known Olympic victor is recorded for 385 ce, but both the cult of Zeus and the competitions may have lingered on in a more informal manner for some time. In the early fifth century ce, a Christian settlement was established in the area of the sanctuary and existed at least until around 600 ce. A Slavic cemetery existed in the area of the new Museum from the second quarter of the seventh century ce onward. The site of the sanctuary was gradually covered by thick layers of sediment and fell into oblivion.