This was the first of several PanHellenic sanctuaries that we visited and is the oldest and most significant of them all. PanHellenic sanctuaries were meant to celebrate the common origins of the Greek people and to show them that they all had the same language, gods, and tough history. This place is flat and green with lots of water, which is uncommon in Greece, but makes sense because it is for Zeus.
The center of the site is called the “altis.” Here was the altar to Zeus and the finish of the famous race. It was bordered by the Alpheous River to south, the Kladeos River to west, and the Kronos Hill (Kronos was the father of Zeus) to the southwest. This entire area was the temenos, or “sacred ground.” There were several temples built here starting in 600 BC.
When we visited the stadium here, we learned about the history of sports in ancient Greece and the origins of the Olympic games.This included the events, the prizes, participants (and how women were not allowed to participate), how religion played a role, and the rules/judging. We also had a relay race to see how it felt to run on the ancient course.
Below are the pictures not from the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Zeus, and the Philippeion (because those places have separate pages).
The center of the site is called the “altis.” Here was the altar to Zeus and the finish of the famous race. It was bordered by the Alpheous River to south, the Kladeos River to west, and the Kronos Hill (Kronos was the father of Zeus) to the southwest. This entire area was the temenos, or “sacred ground.” There were several temples built here starting in 600 BC.
When we visited the stadium here, we learned about the history of sports in ancient Greece and the origins of the Olympic games.This included the events, the prizes, participants (and how women were not allowed to participate), how religion played a role, and the rules/judging. We also had a relay race to see how it felt to run on the ancient course.
Below are the pictures not from the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Zeus, and the Philippeion (because those places have separate pages).