If you visit the city of Olympia, Greece, you can put your feet on the starting lines in the stadium where the original Olympics were held beginning in 776 BC.
The Ancient Greeks honored the god Zeus with athletic competitions held every four years.
These competitions — called the Olympics — were contests between Greek-speaking men representing their city-states.
The original Olympic Games consisted of only one event — the stade race, a sprint the length of the stadium about 700 feet. The atheletes competed nude, bathed in olive oil.
Women were forbidden from watching the Olympics, and if caught doing so, received their death penalty by being thrown off a mountain.
Visitors to Olympia today can all take their place on the line, and run the race (with their clothes on.)
In addition to personally reliving the ancient Olympics in the stadium, visitors to Olympia can explore the Sanctuary, with its athletic quadrangles and temples, before browsing in Archaeological Museum’s large collection of Archaic, Classical and Roman sculptures.
Olympia about a 30-40 minute drive from the cruise port town of Katakolon, Greece, which overlooks the Ionian Sea. Many Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises visit the port, and all cruise lines offer shore excursions to Olympia.
We’ve visited several times, always enjoyed the waterfront restaurants in Katakolon. Wine tours of nearby wineries are also available.
Check out other entries in this week’s Photo Friday challenge, Distance.
Have you visited Olympia? Did you run the stade?
If you want to learn more about Olympia, check out these books….
The Ancient Olympic Games: Third edition
The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games
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