Description
The ancient Olympic Games originally served as a festival and celebration dedicated to Zeus. These historic games trace their roots back to the 2nd millennium BC. It’s believed that King Pelops, from whom the Peloponnese derives its name, played a pivotal role in their inception.
However, a significant turning point in Olympia’s history occurred in 776 BC. During this time, as the myth goes, the Spartan Lycurgus and the King of Elis, Iphitos, entered into an agreement to organize religious festivals in Olympia. An integral part of this agreement was the establishment of a truce throughout Greece during these holidays. This truce could be seen as one of the early building blocks of Greece’s emergence as a unified nation in the future.
As the Olympic Games gained popularity, they evolved into a political tool. Philosophers, sculptors, and poets converged during each olympiad to present their ideas and creative works. By the 8th century BC, Olympia’s renown had spread far and wide, reaching the East and Mesopotamia to the east, as well as the West and lower Italy to the west. Embark on an exploration of Ancient Olympia with our guided tour from Athens.
