The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

By Dipankar Maity
The most celebrated creative work in all of Greece and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World the Statue of Zeus at Olympia has created a deep impact on all who have seen it.
Pausanias, a Greek voyager who has written the initial guidebook to olden Greece in 150 AD, explains the statue in vast detail; nevertheless he also writes that reports are far small of the idea made by a sight of the image. To the Greeks the statue of Olympian Zeus was the personified God, and the one who does get an opportunity to see it even once was considered to be ...

Ancient Greek Temple of Zeus

By Kum Martin
The ancient Greek temple dedicated to Zeus was constructed at Olympia in the sacred sanctuary of Altis. Zeus was the king of all gods in ancient Greece. He lived on Mt. Olympus and was also the god of thunder and sky.
In ancient Greece, Olympics were held every 4 years for athletes. The athletes used to travel Mount Olympus to take part in the games. During this period, the wars would stop and the kings of different territories would call a truce to allow safe passage to the athletes. The Olympics were dedicated to Zeus, and were ...

Greek Mythology Hercules - The Mortal Who Became a God

By Randy Wilson
When Hercules was born to Alcmene, she named him Herakles. But in Roman, Herakles is pronounced Hercules, which is the name we use for Hercules to this day. Hercules in Greek mythology is a great figure of valor and muscle strength. Hercules bravery earned him a place among the gods. After he left the mortal world, he found a position on Mount Olympus, the gods' dwelling place.
Zeus, the King of the gods was an unfaithful husband. He had a weakness for worldly pleasures. He fell in love with ...

The Greek God Zeu

Author: BlairLevi
Generations of information on mythological figures and accounts have contributed to the different cultures of the world, helping to shape the world into what it is today. All of the gods and goddesses recognized throughout the history of mythology played an active role in the evolution of present myths people believe today. Although there have been many gods invented by humans this article will provide a brief description of one of the well-known gods Zeus, along with the roles Zeus played in the development of present day myths.

Zeus, god of the ...

Hellenistic Art: A Symbol of the Rich Greek Milieu

Author: Alice Shown
The Hellenistic civilization encompassed a wide territory, starting from south-west Asia to North-east Africa between 323 BC and 146 BC. Thus, it became a representation of Greek’s strong influence in the older world. This influence is predominant even in the Hellenistic art, which embodies the ancient Greek culture with some fragments of other indigenous cultures. ...

Load of Greek Gods

Author: Shelby Routledge Moran
I guess that many of us understand one thing about the traditional Geeks they were certainly into their Gods. Now as a occasionally crossword enthusiast I am frequently caught out by without knowing the name of one or the other of the Gods, and I thought that it must be an indication of a missing part of my education not to know their names. After a trip to Greece and conversion to a fan of Greece I became motivated enough to research these varied Gods. And, I assumed, at least my crosswords abilities would move up a bit. Right? Wrong! I must tell you that I just couldn't believe just how many Gods the traditional Greeks actually had. I will share with you ...

Come Fly With Me On Mythological Wings

Author: John Prytz
There are lots and lots of really real winged creatures – birds, bats, insects, and in prehistoric times flying reptiles like pterosaurs/pterodactyls. One might even count ‘flying' fish or ‘flying' foxes or squirrels if one had a broad enough definition of ‘flying'. But just because you have wings of course doesn't of necessity mean you can fly. There are lots of terrestrial flightless birds for example yet they still have wings.
There are also a lot of mythological creatures that ...

Do You Know All The Deities Of Ancient Greece?

Author: Jerald Shapiro
Although they seem to be things of the past, reminders of ancient Greek deities are all around us. When you read the following names, more than a few will look familiar.

Ancient Greek Deities

The Greek Pantheon was a polytheistic system of thought and religion that assumed its Greek deities existed independently and individually. Their roll was to rule diverse aspects of the mortals every day life. Myth and culture is gathered in the Pantheon from where the deities leave toward their corresponding realm.

Due to the Hellenic polytheist beliefs in ancient times, deities formed relationships with each other on a more human scale. Compared to one-deity approaches in many modern religions, Greek deities had a surprising number of human limitations and weaknesses. Contrary to other religions, none of the ancient Greek deities was omniscient or omnipotent, although their power was beyond the mortals' limit. ...

Ancient Olympia Greece

Ancient Olympia interactive

The History of the Fig

Author: Abel Jones
The fig tree, 'Ficus carica,' possibly originated in Northern Asia according to archeological fossil records. Spanish missionaries brought it to the United States in 1520. Historical Sumerian tablets record the use and consumption of figs in 2500 BC.

In Greek mythology, the fig figures prominently as a gift of Demeter to Dionysus and as having received the blessing and sanctity of the Greek Gods. Plato documented that Greek athletes at Olympia were fed ...

The History of Olives and Olive Trees

Author: Abel Jones
Olive trees, 'Olea europaea,' are the oldest fruit trees and certainly are one of the most important fruit trees in history. Olive tree culture has been closely connected to the rise and fall of Mediterranean empires and other advanced civilizations throughout the ages. Because olive trees offered wealth and future food supplies to established civilizations, the agricultural nations became stable societies, resulting from a secure expectation from past experience of an uninterrupted food and olive oil supply. This factor was a necessary requirement for population growth and increase. Dependable fruit production and olive oil production means that olive trees must exist in a stable society and a peaceful environment. That stability must extend for many years, since most ancient seedling olive trees required eight or more years before ever producing the first crop of fruit. Productive orchards of olive trees meant that a foundation of the great empires of Greece ...

7 Wonders of the World: Divine Beauty of Architectural Heritage

Author: Jimmy Singh
The seven wonders of the world are the remarkable heritage that the humankind on this earth has. The seven wonders of the world are Great Pyramid of Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, ...

The Destination Of Olympia: Makes Your Dream Come True

Author: harriet1985
Overlooking the Olympia which is in southern Greece plain, and overlooking in Olympia, are quite two different concepts. Looking into Olympia from other places, the mood is a kind of love, longing and guess. And looking far from Olympia, the mood turning to a kind of dream like exciting and tear sharing shock. In Greek ancient arena, the mind's eye of people travelling through time and space, the scene of ancient Olympics' magnificence and brilliance 2000 years ago. The moment that millions of people rejoiced for the torch-lighting, come into tourists' ...

The Original Ancient Wonders

Author: Jim Mark
The Great Pyramid at Giza
Cairo, Egypt
Renowned for being the lone existing part of the seven earliest Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid is the biggest of the 3 pyramids constructed in the olden city of Giza, at the present part of bigger Cairo, Egypt. The pyramid is assumed to have been constructed around 2560 B.C. as a grave for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu, and is expected to take 20 years to create.
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Selcuk, Turkey
Finished approximately in 550 B.C. to give tribute to the Greek goddess ...

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Author: Jim Mark
The most celebrated creative work in all of Greece and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World the Statue of Zeus at Olympia has created a deep impact on all who have seen it.
Pausanias, a Greek voyager who has written the initial guidebook to olden Greece in 150 AD, explains the statue in vast detail; nevertheless he also writes that reports are far small of the idea made by a sight of the image. To the Greeks the statue of Olympian Zeus was the personified God, and the one who does get an opportunity to see it even once was considered to be unfortunate.
Governing over the Gods from his glorious and dignified throne on the top of Mount Olympus, Zeus could see everything, rewarded superior demeanor, penalized wickedness, and ruled all. He was the spreader of...

Olympia museum

Olympic Games And Olympic Truce

By Pavlos Mirmigakos
Olympic Games were born in ancient Greece. Every four years, during summer time, athletes from all over Greece gathered in Olympia, which is in Peloponese, to take part in Olympic Games. Only Greek men could participate and the winners gained a wreath of olive tree leaves and glory. It is an important fact that has to be mentioned that in ancient Greece during the period of Olympic Games all wars and disputes had to stop. It was the only time in history that Olympic Games were actually accompanied by real Olympic Truce. The end of Olympic Games came when the Christian religion prevailed in the Greek mainland.
Back 1896 a revival of Olympic games took place. The 1896 Olympic Games in Athens have been the first Olympic Games in modern times. But the Olympic Spirit has by that time become worldwide, and as a result the Olympic Games have become ...

Chariot Racing – A Popular Sporting Event in Ancient Times

Author: Anna M. Kelly
For the ancient Greeks and Romans, chariot racing was one of the most popular sports beloved by the masses. Although it was a dangerous sport with frequent serious injuries and deaths on both horse and driver, it was a huge draw for spectators who came in droves to watch the spectacle.
The origin of chariot racing is not clear, but evidence from pottery during the Mycenaean Age and a literary reference described by Homer suggests very early beginnings. Chariot racing became one of the more important equestrian events when it was added to the Olympic Games in 680 B.C. Though not as highly esteemed as the foot race, it surpassed racing on horseback which was eventually discontinued.
The races in ancient Greece were held in a stadium called the hippodrome. Ten or more chariots could run at a time. The horses ran around ...

The Sport of Archery in the Olympic Games

By Michael Russell
Archery was not a sports event in the first ancient Olympic Games in Greece. However, the games were held for over 1,000 years, so it's entirely possible that at some time archery was an Olympic sport in the past.
Archery for men was an event for the first time in the modern Olympics in 1900. The first archery event for women was in 1904. However, there was no uniformity in the rules in those early Olympics and archery was dropped as an event after 1920. The international governing body for archery, the Federation Internationale de Tira l'Arc (FITA), was founded in 1931. It took many years before all countries accepted the new international rules for competition, but archery was able to return as an Olympic sport to...

Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony London 2012

Greece - The Olympic Games from 1896 to 2004

By Mary Rowland
Through the years, the Olympic Games have managed to win their rightful place in history. They are still the highest ambition of athletes all over the world. Though the olive branch has been replaced by a gold medal and the exalting songs of the ancient world by tempting prizes for "the winners of the modern Games, the glory that comes from an Olympic victory remains exactly the same.
The modern history of the Olympic Games begins in 1896, and from then to now it has lasted through both difficulties and moments of sheer magnificence. The only Olympiads not to have been held were those scheduled for 1916, 1940 and 1949 due to the outbreak of the two World Wars. The honour of hosting the Games has always been great, but the task extremely difficult. The undertaking of the countries who organize the Games offers, each time, the opportunity for...

History of Trophies Through Time

By John P Peterson
Today trophies are awarded for a range of reasons; from academic achievement, sporting events and to recognise employers or employees. A trophy is a sign of recognition for the recipient and something they can keep as a permanent reminder. They can be inexpensive, made from plastic and wood given to every participant in your child's soccer team, or they can also be a treasure to truly aspire to, such as an Olympic medal or something that has been passed down over many years, like the America's Cup, a sailing trophy.
The history of trophies extends back to ancient times. Derived from the French word 'trophee' in 1513, which means "a spoil or prize of war", trophies also date back to ancient Greece. Through victory in battle the Greeks would create trophies from ...

Equestrian Olympic Games - Dressage

Author: Arthur Archer
Equestrian Olympic Games - Dressage:

The origin of dressage, this type of training can be tracked back to Greece. This is traced back to the third and fourth century Greeks. Ancient Greeks studied in the system of training there horses, both artistically and as an efficient means of improving there cavalry performance. Greeks realized that a properly trained obedient horse would be of much greater use to the riders wish, Hence of more use for the soldier's to have in there possession. If a proper trooper was on a horse he could not control, he was in turn of no use to his fellow soldiers.

The Olympic Games And London, A Timeline of the Drama

By Anna S Lee
London first hosted the Olympic Games in 1908. Originally slated to be held in Naples, it was later on decided to have London do the honors when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1906. Funds for the Games were diverted to rehabilitating the city of Naples so a new venue was needed. Contenders were Berlin and Milan.
In 1948, London again hosted the Games. World War II just ended and while Europe was still rebuilding its economies, it was decided that participants will bring in their own food, no new venue will be erected and that male athletes were housed at an army camp while women in dormitories.
This year, London...

The History of Track and Field Sports

By Madan G Singh
Track and field sports are events that bring to the fore the prowess of man. Through out history Kings and rulers have held contests to commemorate an event or simply for fun and recreation. This is the origin of the track and field sports that normally include races and feats of strength like the Javelin throw and the discus throw. The ancient civilizations in Greece and India all had track and field sports, but the Greek origin is well documented and there are records available from 776 BC. Records suggest that at that time the only event was a race
But recent research by archaeologists, suggest that the games in Greece could have probably been held much earlier perhaps from the 10thor 9thcentury BC. The Games of mans prowess were held at Olympia as is ...

Why Visit Olympia in Greece?

By Angel Vevento
Greece is situated on the tip of Balkan Peninsula. It is formally known as Hellenic Republic. This is the historical name of Greece. Greece has a very vast history. It is also considered as the cradle of Western civilization and the place of birth of democracy.
Tourism plays a very important role in the economy of Greece and that is the reason Greece is known as city of Olympia. In the last 50 years, the tourist industry of Greece has expanded more than 50 %. It expected to expand more in the coming years. There are many facilities for tourist in Greece. There are many places in Greece to visit like coast of Aegean Sea, Peloponnesus with antique Olympia, ...

Pass the (Olympic) flame - Giannis Kotsiras

Olympia Photos Inspire Curiosity About The History Of The Olympics

By Constantinos Iliopoulos
Just looking at Olympia photos can make anyone want to jump on a plane and head out for Greece. Pictures of the Temple of Zeus and the Palaestra take you back to the very beginnings of Olympic competition and you can almost hear the pounding footsteps of the athletes as they race around the track. Those Olympia pictures also might make you curious to know more about the history of the Olympics.
It might surprise you to know that the first recorded Olympic events were held almost 2,800 years ago, in 776 BC, and scholars believe they were probably ...

Shore Excursions That Surpass Any Expectation

By Christos Katsis
In my opinion there is no better way to explore the hidden beauties of Greece(the country with the tenth biggest coastline in the world)than a shore excursion. There are many shore excursion available throughout Greece however the shore excursions mentioned below are some of the most interesting among them.
KATAKOLON (OLYMPIA) ANCIENT OLYMPIA (5 HOURS)
Drive towards Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the most important ...

Go to London for Olympic Games 2012

by goyal

Olympic Games, the most awaited sports events for a large number of athletes of the world, originated in Olympia in Greece in the 8th century BC. It took place till 5th century AD. Modern Olympic Games started in 1896 after the foundation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. It takes place every two years with alternating of Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games. The games held every four years with seasonal games. It means ...

Greece Ancient Olympia

By Virginia Saint-john
In antiquity, when the fame of a sanctuary spread beyond its immediate borders, it was believed that not only the sanctuary, but also its athletic competitions, were founded by gods and heroes and that they were the first to have taken part in the competitions. The beginnings of the Olympic games are lost, deep in the mists of time, but the myths concerning their foundation are many and varied and reflect the religious beliefs of the different peoples who inhabited the area.
One myth names the founder of the games as Heracles Idaeus, who came from Crete with his brothers, the Curetes, and organized a race with a wild olive branch as the prize. Another...

Olympia Greece - A Tour in Antiquity

By Giorgos Kontopoulos
To really get the most from your trip to Olympia, you should join one of the many Olympia Greece tours. Your guide will be able to take you to the most interesting and significant sites, and will be a mine of information about each of the places you visit. As your Olympia Greece tour gets under way, you will find yourself cast back to the days of antiquity, where vengeful gods were idolised and revered.
Your guide will take you to...

Pyrgos Greece, the capital city of ilias (or Elis), between Katakolon and Ancient Olympia

Ancient Olympia Greece - Pelops and Hippodamia

By Yiannis Papadimitriou
The first evidence relevant to the worship of Pelops and Hippodamia, in the area of Olympia, appeared during the Mycenaean period.
The mythological tradition of the area is connected to the ancient king of Pisa, Oenomaus, son of the god Ares. Oenomaus had received a prophecy that the end of his life would come with the marriage of his daughter Hippodamia, whom he...

Where to travel in Greece – Greek Holiday Destinations

Author: Trifonas
Holidays in Greece are something lots of people have dreamt about. I suspect you are that kind of person, because even if you've been there, you always want to go back for some more...
Normally, you would think that Greece should be visited only during summer. This, however, is totally wrong. Greece is not all about islands and beaches. Greece has great cultural heritage as well. Ancient Greece was where western civilization began, as you may have heard, about 3000 years ago. Remnants of this civilization are evident today practically all over Greek territory, but some sites are more famous than others. Here are some famous Historical Greek Holiday Destinations:
Athens: A city that became very rich and powerful about 5th century BC. All the wealth and power was demonstrated with a building complex on a rock, dedicated to the Gods. This is how Parthenon was built along with other Temples on the Acropolis. Every year, thousands of people visit Greece for this reason only: To admire one of the greatest temples ever made.
Ancient Olympia: This is where the Olympic Games took place ...

A History of the Olympic Games

Author: Mariam Ma
There are many stories on how the Olympic Games started in ancient Greece. One story unfolds that it was Heracles who first established the Games after concluding his twelve labors to honor his father, the deity Zeus. Another legend tells that it was the guardians of an infant Zeus who founded the Games by competing in the first footrace. Or perhaps it was Zeus himself who created the Olympic Games after he defeated his father Cronus to become the King of Gods. Whatever the story of how the Olympic Games originated, one constant is clear: the ancient Olympic Games were held as a tribute to Zeus.

Unlike the modern Olympics, the host city of the ancient Olympic Games did not change. It was always held in Olympia, Greece. Olympia is also known for ...

A New Campaign to Bid 2016 Olympic Games

Author: Lisa Lee
Olympic Games have the grandest and the most high-level sports events since it was brought into its appearance in Greek. The modern Olympics movement emerges in the Europe capitalism industry time, but its origin may trace to the ancient Greece Olympics games, an ancient Olympic Games every four years session, has the first session of Olympic Games from 776 B.C. which the writing records to the A.D. 393 years, altogether has conducted 293 sessions, lasted for in 1169, passed through the production, the development and the feeble several social classes.
When it comes to modern times, it has become a respectable honor and great commercial opportunity to hold a successful Olympic Games. Many countries and the host cities not only make a great fortunate from this, but also can they promote their native culture and build up a good image among its neighboring countries, and even ...

Olympia museums - 3D (cross eye - single camera)

How Did Ancient Greeks Manage To Win The Most Olympic Awards?

Author: Tatiana Bandurina
Copyright (c) 2010 Tatiana Bandurina
Discovering the before unknown objective laws of the modern world, each of us tends to inevitably face the curious fact that all new is well forgotten old, although with some variations adapted to the social needs of our reality. For example, very few people know that music was actively used in the athletic life of the Ancient world.
In the last few years the idea of stimulating the athletic working capacity during training by means of music has become more prominent. It is used in types of sports that seem to be absolutely incompatible with music. These include but are not limited to, wrestling, boxing, rowing, track and field, weightlifting, volleyball, and basketball.
It has been scientifically proven that by using...

History of the Olympic Flame

By Jolanta Wencel
The Olympic flame is a symbol of sustainability of the Olympic idea. For the first time it was flashed during the Games IX Olympiad in Amsterdam, but it was done without any accompanying celebration. Only since the Berlin Olympics in 1936, has it been an established custom of carrying the fire by relay runners from ancient Athens to Olympia to the next Olympic city. In Olympia, the fire is lit, from the sun, which takes place in the ruins of the temple of Hera with a concave mirror.
The Olympic torch is a brand or its replica, which burns with an Olympic flame. Runs with lighted torch have a tradition that can be traced back to ancient Greece. With time, these cross-country marathons turned into a ritual of...

London Olympic Games 2012 Olympic Games Summer and Winter Olympic

Author: Amit Kumar
The Olympic Games are chief international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes take part in a variety of competitions.
The London 2012 Olympic Games will outset on July 27, 2012 with a fantastic Olympic Ceremony, welcoming the world's greatest Olympic athletes to London. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times having previously made so in 1908 and 1948. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of theXXX Olympiad.
Through the Olympic in 2012 there will be many sportsperson who will fight to triumph. As different countries will be represented in Olympics 2012 so the athletes will want that they bring glory to the country. ...

Ancient Olympia / Αρχαία Ολυμπία - 3D Tour

Olympia, Greece Travel Guide

By Emma Healey
Located in mainland Greece in the west of the Peloponnese, Olympia is the site of the first Olympic Games which were held in 776 BC. This small town offers accommodation to visitors which allows them to stay less than a mile from the ruins of this world famous site.
The town itself has cafes, tavernas, bars and shops and makes an excellent base for exploring the Peloponnese region. Here you will find unspoilt green countryside with forested hills, rivers and valleys, traditional mountain villages and a beautiful coastline with wonderful sandy beaches.
For history enthusiasts this is the place to be. Highlights of a holiday in Olympia include ...

Ancient Olympia - The Original Venue of the Olympic Games

By Alex Moutop
Olympia is an ancient sanctuary in the prefecture of Elis Peloponnese. A magnificent archaeological site, the sanctuary has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and in the 10th century B.C, the area became a religious center for the worship of Zeus and Hera, the chief couple of the Olympian gods. The sanctuary was also the site of the Olympic Games held in honor of Zeus from the 8th century BC till the 3rd century AD, when the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius decided to stop them as a pagan practice.