Senior Sailor Says…
Whenever I visit a historic place, it is a thrill to know that, for thousands of years, mankind has lived its life, including the day-to-day life of working and caring for families, as well as well-known events such as the Site of the first Olympiad.
On a recent Viking Ocean Cruise, “Empires of the Mediterranean,” I visited the site of the first Olympic Games, established in 776 BC.
Olympia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located near the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula of southern Greece. Here, you will find the remains of the first Olympic Park, including the Temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which once housed the gold-and-ivory statue of the Greek god.
The games were held every four years until the end of the 4th century AD, when the Roman emperor Theodosius I abolished pagan festivals. Theodosius II had the temples destroyed in 426. Earthquakes further damaged the ruins. Mudslides and silt from the Cladeus River eventually covered much of the area, helping to preserve the site.
Since the early 19th century, the area has been slowly excavated and studied, offering today the opportunity to explore.
The stadium is the easiest to make out. The track was surrounded by massive sloping earth embankments to accommodate the spectators (some 45,000).
Today, you can still stand on the stone starting and finish lines used by the original athletes.
Many of the unearthed treasures are now housed in the nearby Olympia Archaeological Museum, which displays the most significant treasures of the sanctuary.
For more information about Viking Ocean Cruises, “Empires of the Mediterranean,” and the included excursions that take you back in time, click here.
