After docking in Katakolon, Greece, we took one of the ship-sponsored tours that transported us to the archaeological site of ancient Olympia. This is the main attraction of the small port city of Katakolon (600 inhabitants) The cruise port of Katakolon has become the number one tourist port in Greece for cruise ships and passengers. This where the Olympic games originated thousands of years ago. The Olympic Games were held every four years four from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The first Olympic Games were in honor of Zeus.
Olympia was situated in a valley in Elis, in western Peloponnisos (Peloponnesus), through which runs the Alpheus River. It was not a town, but only a sanctuary with buildings associated with games and the worship of the gods. Olympia was a national shrine of the Greeks and contained many treasures of Greek art, such as temples, monuments, altars, theaters, statues, and votive offerings of brass and marble.
The Olympia site was originally discovered in 1776 by Englishman Richard Chandler. The French began excavations at the site in 1829. German explorations of 1875-81 threw much light upon the plans of the buildings; they were resumed in 1936, 1952, and 1960-61. Many valuable objects were discovered, the most important of which was a statue of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, by Praxiteles.
The most celebrated temple was the Temple of Zeus, dedicated to the father of the gods. In this temple was a statue of Zeus made of ivory and gold, the masterpiece of the Athenian sculptor Phidias. Next to the Temple of Zeus ranked the Heraeum, dedicated to Hera, the wife of Zeus. In this temple, probably the oldest Doric building known, stood the table on which were placed the olive branch garlands cut from a sacred olive grove (not medals in the ancient times) prepared for the victors in the games. Much more importantly, participants won glory, fame, and in a very real sense historical immortality for their region. They did, however, come home as heroes - and got showered with gifts there. Many victors subsequently used their fame to endorse products and to get paid posing for sculptures and drawings ... naked, of course.
Ancient Olympic sportsmen (all Greek men) ran, wrestled, and fought buck naked. The ancient Greeks had a tradition of doing things nude (they walked around in the buff in the bedroom and at parties called sympsia*, and they exercised without any clothes on) - indeed, the word gymnasium came from the Greek word gymos, which means "naked." The audience consisting only of men were naked too. The theory was nakedness brings all down to basic human level and celebrate the male physique. The contestants anointed themselves with olive oil to enhance their appearance.
The very first recorded ancient Olympic Games took place in 776 BC. The event was a stadion race (a foot race equivalent to a 208-yard dash). The winner was a humble baker from the Greek city state of Elis named Koroibos.
Eventually, Christianity killed the Olympic games. When the Romans conquered Greece, they viewed the games as a pagan festival. In 393 AD, Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned the ancient Olympics in part to institute Christianity as a state religion. The Olympics was no more ... until it was revived 1,500 years later in 1896.
This is a very popular site with many bus loads of tourists visiting daily.
Olympia was situated in a valley in Elis, in western Peloponnisos (Peloponnesus), through which runs the Alpheus River. It was not a town, but only a sanctuary with buildings associated with games and the worship of the gods. Olympia was a national shrine of the Greeks and contained many treasures of Greek art, such as temples, monuments, altars, theaters, statues, and votive offerings of brass and marble.
The Olympia site was originally discovered in 1776 by Englishman Richard Chandler. The French began excavations at the site in 1829. German explorations of 1875-81 threw much light upon the plans of the buildings; they were resumed in 1936, 1952, and 1960-61. Many valuable objects were discovered, the most important of which was a statue of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, by Praxiteles.
The most celebrated temple was the Temple of Zeus, dedicated to the father of the gods. In this temple was a statue of Zeus made of ivory and gold, the masterpiece of the Athenian sculptor Phidias. Next to the Temple of Zeus ranked the Heraeum, dedicated to Hera, the wife of Zeus. In this temple, probably the oldest Doric building known, stood the table on which were placed the olive branch garlands cut from a sacred olive grove (not medals in the ancient times) prepared for the victors in the games. Much more importantly, participants won glory, fame, and in a very real sense historical immortality for their region. They did, however, come home as heroes - and got showered with gifts there. Many victors subsequently used their fame to endorse products and to get paid posing for sculptures and drawings ... naked, of course.
Ancient Olympic sportsmen (all Greek men) ran, wrestled, and fought buck naked. The ancient Greeks had a tradition of doing things nude (they walked around in the buff in the bedroom and at parties called sympsia*, and they exercised without any clothes on) - indeed, the word gymnasium came from the Greek word gymos, which means "naked." The audience consisting only of men were naked too. The theory was nakedness brings all down to basic human level and celebrate the male physique. The contestants anointed themselves with olive oil to enhance their appearance.
The very first recorded ancient Olympic Games took place in 776 BC. The event was a stadion race (a foot race equivalent to a 208-yard dash). The winner was a humble baker from the Greek city state of Elis named Koroibos.
Eventually, Christianity killed the Olympic games. When the Romans conquered Greece, they viewed the games as a pagan festival. In 393 AD, Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned the ancient Olympics in part to institute Christianity as a state religion. The Olympics was no more ... until it was revived 1,500 years later in 1896.
This is a very popular site with many bus loads of tourists visiting daily.
The tour took us to the Mercouri Winery for Greek wine tasting and a light brunch. the estate vineyards are located beside the family residence and in two nearby locations, with a total area of approximately 40 acres. The land and the climate are particularly well-suited for the production of high-quality wines and the estate grows more than 15 varieties of grape of both Greek and international origin. The other arm of production on the estate is in the making of olive oil. The oil is made from olives of a superior Greek quality (Koroneiki) and the privately-owned olive groves on the estate are over 100 years old.
When the tour group visited, the winery was in full work mode doing the harvesting and other wine producing operations.
Mercouri Winery owner interview.
When the tour group visited, the winery was in full work mode doing the harvesting and other wine producing operations.
Mercouri Winery owner interview.
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