The Olympia of the Antiquity

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It was probably the Olympia of the Antiquity I had most looked forward to show Inge and Anne Grete on this trip. Mainly, because the spectacular blossoms I had seen there during the Easter in 1999. To my great disappointment was all the vegetation beaten to the ground this year. We came too late to view what Lonely Planet's Guide to Greece had described as the main attraction on Peloponnesus, the Olympia during spring. For that reason do I enclose a few pictures on the bottom of the page, they can describe how you may experience the place if you arrive at the right time of the year (in 1999 was it around April 1st - and that is no joke).

 

 

Inge and Anne Grete at the gates to the Stadium

Olympia is a huge area, which contains more than a stadium. Here are ruins of temples, schools and settlements. But the town is though most famous for the Olympic Games situated here in the Antiquity. Originally was it native Greeks who could participate, but later were the Romans allowed competing as well. Women and slaves had no admission. And those women who tried to admit the premises were thrown of a cliff in the nearby area. Now, in modern time is always the Olympic fire lighted here, and then carried to the host country of the games.

Travel diary from day 8 (Friday April 21st 2000) continues.

When we came up to the main road again we continued down to the Antiquity town of Olympia. This must have been an impressive stadium when it was in use during the years 700 - 400 BC. No it is mainly fallen columns and rocks left, even though, you can use your imagination to imagine how it must have looked.

 

 

These are ruins of the columns in Zeus' temple, the greatest temple on the sight.

Travel diary from day 8 (Friday April 21st 2000) continues.

The stadium it self is fairly intact, and here a race between Inge and Anne Grete took place, whom could outrun the other? No doubt, Inge was fastest.

 

 

At the stadium in Olympia one just have to race, though in the Antiquity only men could race each other and in addition they ran nude - but you just have to draw the line some place (Apologizes for the blurry photograph).

Travel diary from day 8 (Friday April 21st 2000) continues.

I (Jan) was here during Easter the previous year (but then 3 weeks earlier) and that year the flowering were a massive impression everywhere inside the Olympia. These flowers had to our despair been cut down. Because, last year I brought home some fantastic photos of the scenery, and I had hoped to be able to show Inge and Anne Grete the fantastic view I had seen the previous year.

 

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If you arrive at the right time you can see scenery of flowers with no comparison.

 

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Even straight up from the old stones, there are growing flowers
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Thanks to Marit Barstad, Trondheim for her translation into English!
© Jan Bergtun, 6. June 2002 Updated, 12.20.2007
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