Peloponnese - Greece - page 333

Sights
Three museums focus on Ancient Olympia (and Olympics) mania. The Archaeological
Museum of Olympia and Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity are
not to be missed; the Museum of the History of Excavations in Olympia is okay if you
have time to kill or interest to satisfy. And this is before you hit the Olympic site itself.
Entrance times to Ancient Olympia and to the museums change annually, seasonally
and at whim, it seems; check with your hotel on arrival. You can buy a joint ticket for the
Olympic site and the Archaeological Museum. A handy website to the area is
www.ancientolympiahotels.gr .
Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity MUSEUM
( 12.30-7.30pm Mon, 8am-7.30pm Tue-Sun May-Oct, 10am-5pm Mon, 8am-3pm Tue-Fri)
This museum, opened in 2004 (after the Athens Olympics), is a beautifully presented
space depicting the history of all things athletic, as well as of the Nemean, Panathenaic
and, of course, Olympic Games. The sculptures, mosaics and other displays all pay trib-
ute to athletes and athleticism. Women, and their involvement (or lack of), are also ac-
knowledged.
Museum of the History of Excavations in Olympia MUSEUM
( 1.30-8pm Mon, 8am-8pm Tue-Sun Apr-Oct, 10am-5pm Mon, 8am-3pm Tue-Fri) Next to
the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Antiquity, and housed in a small
historic building, this museum will appeal more to archaeology and history buffs. It dis-
plays items relating to the site's German excavations in the 19th century.
Archaeological Museum of Olympia MUSEUM
( tel/fax [phone]; adult/concession €6/3, incl site visit €9/5; 10am-5pm Mon,
8am-8pm Tue-Fri, reduced hours in winter) This superb museum - Ancient Olympia's archae-
ological site museum - about 200m north of the sanctuary's ticket kiosk, is a great place
to start or end your visit to the site of Ancient Olympia.
The museum includes a scale model of the site, and spectacular (if not complete) reas-
sembled pediments and metopes from the Temple of Zeus. The eastern pediment de-
picts the chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos, the western pediment shows the
fight between the Centaurs and Lapiths, and the metopes depict the Twelve Labours of
Hercules.