Mediterranean Cruise-- Katakolon, Greece!

Katakolon is a small port and fishing village linked to the legendary Olympia. We walked a few minutes from the ship to rent our own car (scary!). 80 Euros later and the 7 of us were packed inside a Fiat, Doblo on our way to freshen up on the Greek culture.

The city is a pastoral site chosen by Zeus to promote his culture among the Greeks. The Olympic Games originated here and this is where the torch is lit for the modern games. The ceremonies were strict. Women, except for Hera were not allowed, with death as punishment. LAME! All competitors had to be Greek. The winners at the time were awarded by public triumph, engraved in a golden register and a life size statue was made. The Germans began excavating in 1875 and have brought to light the Temples of Jupiter and Hera, the Grammar School, the Gymnasium and the Stadium.

We started with the Olympia Museum

 Let the education and nakedness begin...

 

Hermes carrying the young Dionysus

Nike of Paionios, which was found in the Temple of Zeus

 After the museum we walked to the ruins. Our first view was of the East Colonnade of the Gymnasium.

 Originally constructed in the 2nd century BC, the gymnasium was an enormous open-air courtyard surrounded by covered colonnades and was used as a training area for the athletes.

 Walking past the Gymnasium, we came upon the Philippeion.

 

Dedicated by Philip II to Zeus after his victory at Chaironeia in 338 BC, it was one of the loveliest and most graceful of the constructions on the site. Philip II died before it could be completed, so the monument was finished by Philip's son, Alexander the Great.

 

From here we had our first look at the massive Temple of Zeus, which stood in the center of the sanctuary.

Destroyed by earthquakes during Byzantine times, the columns have toppled and it is difficult to imagine what it once looked like. But it was the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World -- The Statue of Zeus by the sculptor Pheidias, who worked at Olympia from 440-430 BC.

 

 Base of the columns for all the heroic athletes...

 

And finally, here is the ancient stadium.

 

 This stadium dates to the 5th century BC, when the games were at their peak and had taken on their final form. The track is 212,54 meters long and 28,50 meters wide. The stadium could seat 40,000-45,000 spectators, who sat on the grass embankments. On the left of the playing field you can still see the area reserved for the Hellanodikai, or judges and games officials.

 

On our way home we went for a spin to see the city in behalf of Shaun... I fell in LOVE!

Then headed back into town to shop.

Just before getting on deck we enjoyed a REAL GYRO (they had french fries in them)-- no where close to an Americanized Crown Burger gyro! Boy to we have it ALL wrong!

Back to the ship and off to--Piraeus, Greece!