Archaeopaedia: Stadium at Olympia

The stadium at Olympia did not exist during the early years of the games. Pre-stadium athletes made use of an open stretch of flat ground within the Altis boundaries. A line scratched in the ground marked the start, and the finish was drawn near the Alter of Zeus (H. Harris). Spectators could watch the events from the slopes of Kronos Hill. However, as the Games increased in both popularity and prestige, a new facility became necessary.

Around 350 BC, the new stadium was constructed outside the Altis walls. That the stadium was constructed outside the sacred precinct was of symbolic importance: it recognized the Games’ increasing departure from a strictly religious event (N. Yalouris). The stadium track was made of clay, and stretched 600 Olympic feet (192.3 meters). The distance was fixed in agreement with an Heraklion myth (in the myth, the hero measured out the distance of the first race by placing one foot in front of the other 600 times). At either end of the track were a series of marble slabs that marked the races’ beginning and end. There is some evidence that mechanical devices were used in conjunction with the blocks to prevent false starts. In an effort to preserve some of the religious character of the event, it was desirable that the races conclude at the western end of the track, which faced the Altis (J. Swaddling).

The ground around the track rose naturally to the east, and artificial embankments were created on the north, south and west sides (J. Swaddling). These slopes provided room for approximately 45,000 spectators to watch the races. Stone seats were never constructed for the guests, who in accordance with the austere Olympic conception of athletic events, sat on the ground (N. Yalouris). Between the embankments and track, a ridge of stone blocks traced the perimeter of the stadium. Along the blocks, a trench was constructed to transport drinking water to the thirsty fans (J. Swaddling). A third of the way down the southern embankment, a platform was constructed to seat the Hellanodikai, who oversaw the games and acted as judges (H. Schobel). Opposite the judges, on the north side of the stadium, was later constructed the Roman alter of Demeter; the priestess of Demeter was the only woman allowed to watch the Games. The west end of the stadium faced the Altis, and there a tunnel was constructed that led from the sanctuary to the western embankment. The tunnel was vaulted and stretched 32 meters in length. At the ends of the tunnel were Cornthian columns along with small statues of Nemesis to warn competitors against cheating and unfair play. The “Secret Entrance” was completely hidden by earth, and closed with bronze gates. Only athletes and Olympic officials were allowed to use the tunnel (Pausanias). These select few paraded into the stadium through the tunnel in a grand procession before the events took place.

References

Biers, William R. The Archaeology of Greece. Cornell University Press, Ithica; 1996

Gardiner, E. Norman. Olympia: Its History and Remains. Clarendon Press, London; 1925

Harris, H. A. Greek Athletes and Athletics. Greenwood Press, Wesport; 1964

Pausanias. Description of Greece with an English Translation (by Jones, W.H.S.) Harvard University Press, Cambridge; 1918

Schobel, Heinz. The Ancient Olympic Games. D. Van Nostrand Compay, Princeton; 1965

Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games. British Museum Press, London; 2004

Valavanis, Panos. Games and Sanctuaries in Ancient Greece. Getty Publications, Los Angeles; 2004

Yalouris, Nikolaos. Olympia: Altis and Museum. Verlag Schnell & Steiner Munchen, Zurich; 1976

Greek Archaeology