Images

The Philippeion was erected by Philip II, King of Macedonia after the victory of Chaeroneia in 338 BCE. Originally there were 18 Ionic columns and inside were gold and ivory statues of Philip's family.

The Palaestra where athletes trained and lived before events (3rd century BCE). Originally, there were 72 columns in the stoas.

The Gymnasion was built in the second century BCE and was used as a training ground for the javelin, discus and running athletes.

The Archaic temple of Hera in Olympia (7th century BCE).

Marble statue of Nike, Olympia. Dedicated to Zeus by the Messenians and Naupaktians after their victory over Sparta in 424 BCE. Sculpted by Paionios of Mende. (Olympia Archeaological Museum, Greece).

A boxing scene from an attic red-figure kylix (c. 500 BCE). Olympia Archaeological Museum.

A depiction of a chariot with charioteer on an attic black-figure kylix (510-500 BCE). Olympia Archaeological Museum.

Attic black-figure column crater depicting a foot race (510-500 BCE). Olympia Archaeological Museum.

A bronze statue of a pankratiast (2nd century BCE). The leather thongs wrapped around the fist, worn by later exponents of this viiolent mix of wrestling and boixing, can be clearly seen. (Olympia Archaeological Museum, Olympia)

A detail of the assembly of the gods from the east frieze of the Treasury of the Siphians (525 BCE), Delphi. Delphi Archaeological Museum.