Peloponnese - Greece - page 336

South of the Temple of Zeus is the bouleuterion MAP GOOGLE MAP (council
house), which contains the altar of oaths MAP GOOGLE MAP , where competitors
swore to obey the rules decreed by the Olympic Senate.
The stadium MAP GOOGLE MAP lies to the east of the altis and is entered through
an archway. The start and finish lines of the 120m sprint track and the judges' seats still
survive. The stadium could seat at least 45,000 spectators. Slaves and women spectators
had to be content to watch from the Hill of Cronos.
To the north of the Temple of Zeus was the pelopion MAP GOOGLE MAP , a small,
wooded hillock with an altar to Pelops. It was surrounded by a wall containing the re-
mains of its Doric portico. Many artefacts now displayed in the museum were found on
the hillock.
Further north is the 6th-century Doric Temple of Hera MAP GOOGLE MAP , the
site's most intact structure. Hera was worshipped along with Rea until the two were su-
perseded by Zeus.
To the east of this temple is the nymphaeum MAP GOOGLE MAP , erected by the
wealthy Roman banker Herodes Atticus in AD 156-60. Typical of buildings financed by
Roman benefactors, it was grandiose, consisting of a semicircular building with Doric
columns flanked at each side by a circular temple. The building contained statues of
Herodes Atticus and his family. Despite its elaborate appearance, the nymphaeum had a
practical purpose; it was a fountain house supplying Olympia with fresh spring water.
Beyond the nymphaeum and up a flight of stone steps, a row of 12 treasuries MAP
GOOGLE MAP stretched to the stadium, each erected by a city state for use as a store-
house and marking the northern boundaries of the altis .
At the bottom of these steps are the scant remains of the 5th-century-BC metroön
MAP GOOGLE MAP , a temple dedicated to Rea, the mother of the gods. Apparently the
ancients worshipped Rea in this temple with orgies.
The foundations of the philippeion MAP GOOGLE MAP , west of the Temple of
Hera, are the remains of a circular construction with Ionic columns built by Philip of
Macedon to commemorate the Battle of Chaironeia (338 BC), where he defeated a com-
bined army of Athenians and Thebans. The building contained statues of Philip and his
family.
North of the philippeion was the prytaneum MAP GOOGLE MAP , the magistrate's
residence. Here, winning athletes were entertained and feasted.