Olympia

The 38DegC heat didn't help!

We toured the original Olympic games site, with guide Angela, which exists as it was and is very ordinary in appearance.The Temple of Zeus would have been spectacular but not as a few columns and a collection of big broken bits.

The original race starting stones are still in place today.The stones have two grooves for the toes.

The length of the 'track' is uncertain but was measured by selecting some man with big feet and using his foot as the measure.

Spectators, numbering many thousands  weren't even seated except for the judges and the participants entered via a long tunnel to thunderous applause. The participants came from many locations, as far as N. Africa, and many islands and countries. The games were running, wrestling, boxing, a mixture of both and long jump. There was great joy one year when the Spartans finally lost! There was only a first prize, no others. The wreath was made from an olive tree nearby.

A feature that entered soon after the start was that, when finished, the grounds must be left in exactly the same state as when started. Sound familiar?

It's impressive to see the actual Ionic and Doric columns that have been restored but it doesn't make for impressive photos.

In recent times, the Olympic torch is still lit in the traditional place but it has to be by the heat of the sun only in a concave mirror focussed onto the torch top. There are about six Greek young women in traditional long white dresses to accompany the lighting process, with poems etc.