Embedded Files
Day 5: Olympia Archaeological Museum
Day 5: Olympia Archaeological Museum
Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ολυμπίας
Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ολυμπίας
We started off the tour in the Olympia Archaeological Museum with our local guide, Niki Vlachou, whose enthusiasm was as bright as the artifacts she described. She led us through the treasures uncovered from centuries of excavation, most dating back to the 7th century BC. The hammered bronze pieces caught my attention—both the decorative statues and the practical items such as armor and cauldrons, each crafted with astonishing skill.
The statuary was equally captivating: the original pediments from the Temple of Zeus, scenes of the ten labors of Hercules, the graceful Hermes of Praxiteles, and a tender depiction of Zeus and Ganymede that felt almost timeless. As I moved from piece to piece, I found myself recalling the Greek myths I studied years ago in my Great Books courses; familiar stories suddenly made tangible, standing before me in bronze and marble.
The tour group around a model of the Sanctuary of Olympia
Bronze Female Winged Figure (590-580 BC)
Cauldron (7th Cent. BC)
Hammered Bronze Griffin
Helmets found at the sanctuary
Zeus and Ganymede (5th century BC). This elegant sculpture captures the mythic moment when Zeus carries off the young Ganymede—a story the ancient Greeks told to explore themes of beauty, power, and divine favor.
Nike of Paeonius (421 BC) embodies how the ancient Greeks personified Victory itself—a dramatic, wind-swept figure descending from the heavens. Seeing her in person gives a whole new layer of meaning to that familiar modern shoe brand.
Above: At 85 feet long, the West Pediment of the Temple of Zeus is impressive. It depicts the battle of the Lapiths and centaurs with the centaurs attempting to carry off women from a wedding.
Below: The East Pediment of the Temple of Zeus depicts King Pelops (the founder of the Olympic Games) after he won a chariot race after sabotaging the king's wheels and became king himself.
The twelve labors of Hercules are also depicted in friezes from the temple with this being the Golden Apples
Above: Hermes of Praxiteles (340–330 BC). Discovered in the Temple of Hera, this masterpiece depicts Hermes carrying the infant Dionysus. Its artistry is remarkable with subtle movement captured in the body, the elegant S-curve of the spine, and the way Hermes leans against the tree trunk all combine to give the statue a lifelike grace.
Below: The group looks on as our tour guide explains the the Sanctuary of Olympia model
Day 5: The Sanctuary of Olympia
Day 5: The Sanctuary of Olympia
Ιερό της Ολυμπίας
Ιερό της Ολυμπίας
Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, was once the beating heart of Greek unity and celebration. For over a thousand years, some 40,000 men and a select few priestesses from across Greece gathered here every four years to compete in honor of the gods. A sacred peace was declared, halting conflicts so athletes and all male spectators could travel safely to this remote sanctuary.
Standing amid the ruins, it is not hard to imagine the energy that once filled the air: the roar of the crowds, the smell of dust and sweat, the hum of anticipation as competitors lined up beneath the blazing sun. In this quiet valley, echoes of that ancient excitement still seem to linger, whispering reminders of a time when sport and spirit brought an entire civilization together.
Niki explained the history of the ancient gymnasium, noting that gymnos means “naked;” the way athletes actually trained. It certainly gives modern gym class a whole new meaning, and I was more than a little relieved that this particular tradition didn’t survive into our school days!
Ready, set, go! Visitors and Olympic hopefuls alike from around the world cannot resist lining up to sprint the length of the field at the original Olympic stadium, following in the footsteps of ancient athletes where the Games first began.
Pro Tip: Line up at the end of the starting line to snag a better picture without all of the other tourists in it
The gymnasium (4th century BC) was ringed with Doric columns and a long covered arcade that opened onto a massive courtyard, which is roughly the length of six football fields, matching the distance of the Olympic stadium itself. This is where athletes trained for the Games, many arriving a month early to size up the competition. For young Greeks, this kind of physical training began in childhood and doubled as preparation for military service.
The Temple of Hera is still the spot where the Olympic torch is lit every two years, beginning its journey around the world to the host city, a modern echo of the ancient Games that once took place here.
The Leonidaion (330 BC) was the one of largest buildings in the sanctuary of Olympia, which is essentially the VIP guesthouse for high-status visitors during the Games. While dignitaries slept in relative comfort here, most others camped in tents or simply bedded down in the open air, turning Olympia into a bustling festival city of athletes, spectators, merchants, and wanderers.
The Temple of Zeus (470–455 BC) was the spiritual heart of ancient Olympia, dedicated to the king of the gods and patron of the Olympic Games. Inside stood one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: a towering 40-foot statue of Zeus, fashioned from ivory and gold and brilliantly painted.
Ancient writers describe the statue as holding an eagle-topped scepter in one hand and a small statue of Nike in the other, Zeus's head nearly brushing the temple’s peaked roof. It must have been an awe-inspiring sight for athletes and pilgrims alike.
I grabbed a quiet lunch at a street side café recommended in the guidebook. It was lovely to sit under the shaded patio with locals and away from the tourist traps on the main street. Our tour guide wandered in for a coffee and was surprised to see me there, asking how I knew about this place. It was a delightful time to recoup from what had been a very active tour thus far and to get some much needed alone time to recharge my social battery.
Day 5: Olive Oil Tasting
Day 5: Olive Oil Tasting
Γευσιγνωσία ελαιόλαδου
Γευσιγνωσία ελαιόλαδου
We continued on to our next stop: the Oilympian Koufolias Olive Oil Mill. There, we stepped into the story of olive oil itself—first through the lens of tradition, then through the efficiency and precision of modern techniques. It was striking to see how something so simple and essential has evolved over centuries while still holding the same cultural and culinary importance.
The olives grown here are known for having the highest levels of polyphenols in the world, and learning that felt a bit like being let in on a quiet secret of the land. Tasting the oil with its fresh, peppery, almost luminous in flavor was more than sampling a product. It was experiencing the landscape, the climate, the history, the patience of hands that tend the groves. Here, the earth speaks through the fruit it nurtures.
The progression of olive oil technology
Left (top): The original manual olive presses
Above: When engines were introduced, they turned the millstones seen here to press the olives
Left (bottom): Today's modern version is quite sleek and a powerhouse (literally!). It processes more tons of olives in one day than could be done in a week previously.
The group on our tour. While some of us have olive oil tasted on previous tours, it is always interesting to see how things are doing in different locations.
At the olive oil tasting, we learned to warm the little glass cups in our hands first while coaxing out the fuller aromas and flavors before taking that first, rich sip.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse