Ancient Olympia

by

Oliver Pilz

• LAST MODIFIED: 23 September 2024
• DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195389661-0419

Introduction

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.

General Overviews

Sinn 2004 and Kyrieleis 2011 are the best and most reliable introductions to the archaeology of Olympia and the Olympic Games. For a short, readable overview in English, see Sinn 2000. Barringer 2021 is the most up-to-date summary of the sanctuary’s development. Herrmann 1972 remains the most comprehensive survey of the sanctuary, but is in many details out of date. Mallwitz 1972 presents a valuable general introduction and an excellent overview of the architecture of Olympia. For a good general overview with special focus on the history of the excavations, see Siebler 2004. Heilmeyer, et al. 2012 is an exhibition catalogue containing a number of essays on various aspects of the history and archaeology of the sanctuary and the competitions.

• Barringer, Judith M. 2021. Olympia: A cultural history. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.

  DOI: 10.1515/9780691218533

  Largely leaving the competitions aside, the author provides a valuable overview of the development of the sanctuary, with special focus on architectural and free-standing sculpture; suitable for students and a general audience.

• Heilmeyer, Wolf-Dieter, Nikos E. Kaltsas, Hans-Joachim Gehrke, Georgia E. Hatzi, and Susanne Bocher, eds. 2012. Mythos Olympia: Kult und Spiele. Munich: Prestel.

  Splendidly illustrated catalogue of an exhibition held in Berlin, Athens, and Doha, covering many aspects of the history and archaeology of Olympia and the Olympic Games. There is an abridged English edition: Olympics: Past & Presen, edited by Andreas Amendt, Christian Wacker, and Stephan Wassong (Publications of the Qatar Olympic & Sport Museum (QOSM) 2; Munich: Prestel).

• Herrmann, Hans-Volkmar. 1972. Olympia: Heiligtum und Wettkampfstätte. Munich: Hirmer.

  Although partially outdated, especially for the early phases of the cult, still valuable overview of the sanctuary and the Games.

• Kyrieleis, Helmut. 2011. Olympia: Archäologie eines Heiligtums. Mainz, Germany: Zabern.

  Best introduction to the archaeology of the sanctuary; very useful for students and accessible to a general audience.

• Mallwitz, Alfred. 1972. Olympia und seine Bauten. Munich: Prestel.

  Excellent treatment of the sanctuary, with special focus on the architecture; indispensable work of reference.

• Siebler, Michael. 2004. Olympia: Ort der Spiele, Ort der Götter. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.

  Good overview of the sanctuary, including an in-depth discussion of the history of the German excavations; accessible to students and a general audience.

• Sinn, Ulrich. 2000. Olympia: Cult, sport and ancient festival. Translated by Thomas Thornton. Princeton, NJ: Markus Wiener.

  Short, readable introduction to the history and archaeology of the sanctuary and the Games; useful for undergraduate students and a general audience. Translation of Olympia: Kult, Sport und Feste in der Antike (Munich: C.H. Beck, 1996; 2d ed. 2002).

• Sinn, Ulrich. 2004. Das antike Olympia: Götter, Spiele und Kunst. Munich: C.H. Beck.

  Very good survey of the sanctuary and the Olympic Games; accessible to students and a general readership.