Olympia

Olympia: sanctuary and the numerous buildings, monuments and other structures associated with the Olympic Games; excavation since 1875; finds in the Olympia Museum.

Sanctuary and numerous buildings, monuments and other structures. Center of the ancient Olympic Games.

Location

The sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia located in the western Peloponnese was, aside from Delphi, the most important sanctuary of ancient Greece. It owes its fame, both in antiquity and in modern times, to the Olympic games which took place in Olympia every four years bringing together the entire Greek world for peaceful competition.

Objectives

The sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia located in the western Peloponnese was, aside from Delphi, the most important sanctuary of ancient Greece. It owes its fame, both in antiquity and in modern times, to the Olympic games which took place in Olympia every four years bringing together the entire Greek world for peaceful competition.
The research project on Olympia's Roman Imperial and Late Antique periods will partially be addressed through the expansion of the excavation to the north and south. New knowledge may be attained on Olympia in the Roman Imperial period, when the sanctuary still had great significance, in the later phases of the sanctuary and Olympic Games, and also in Christian times when the sanctuary had a less important role.  

Current Work

Preparation of a basic plan for a conservation program and for presentation of the archaeological site is also underway in view of increasing number of tourists.
The systematic publication of the excavation results is ongoing. 

Results

The excavation of Olympia between 1875 and 1881 was the first large-scale continuous excavation in Greece made possible through international contracts; it was financed by the German government and managed by a board of directors in Berlin. Excavators responsible for the site included among others archaeologists G. Hirschfeld, G. Treu, and A. Furtwängler and as architects A. Boetticher, W. Dörpfeld, and R. Borrmann. The central part of the sanctuary was excavated including the Temple of Zeus, Heraion, Metroon, Bouleuterion, Philippeion, Echo Stoa, Treasuries and Palaestra. Among the most important finds are the sculptures from the Temple of Zeus, the Nike of Paionios, the Hermes of Praxitiles, and numerous bronzes (more that 14,000 objects inventoried). The goal of this undertaking was the scientific investigation of the site, not - as was normal up until that time - the attainment of exhibition pieces for the homeland of the excavators. For the first time, the finds were set up in a museum located at the site (according to the plans of F. Adler). Between 1908 and 1929, W. Dörpfeld carried out periodic, supplemental, and locally restricted investigations principally focusing on the early history of the sanctuary (discovery of prehistoric houses). A new undertaking of systematic excavations took place in 1936 on occasion of the Olympic Games held in Berlin. Beginning in 1937, E. Kunze and H. Schleif were given responsibility for the implementation of the work. The excavations were mainly concentrated in the area of the south wall of the stadium, the south hall, the bath complex and the gymnasium. The excavations after World War II, between 1952 and 1966, again were carried out under direction of E. Kunze with A. Mallwitz serving as excavation architect. Revealed during the excavation were Pheidias' workshop, the Leonidaion, the north wall of the stadium, the southeast section (discovery of almost 140 debris pits containing numerous bronze and ceramics objects as well as roof terracottas). From 1972 to 1984, control of the excavations lay in the hands of A. Mallwitz. In 1978, after a break in order to process the finds, new excavations began in the southeast section, and beginning in 1980 also in the southwest section (important results: dating of the stadium complex, discovery of Arcadian graves, establishment of the location of the Hestia sanctuary, further well deposits, and study of roof terracottas). In 1984, H. Kyrieleis took over the supervision of the excavations (since 1992 K. Herrmann serving as deputy). The main focus of the research was directed towards the earlier history of the sanctuary with excavation of the Prytaneion and Pelopion (1986-1996). Furthermore, the publication of various finds according to type is continuing and being carried out by visiting colleagues (at present H. Baitinger is working on attack weapons). Additionally, a separate research project, »Olympia während der römischen Kaiserzeit und in der Spätantike,« is being run under the direction of U. Sinn (Würzburg) with excavation of the Roman buildings northwest of the Prytaneion and in the area of the Southwest Building which has been interpreted as a clubhouse for athletes. Research is underway by K. Herrmann involving soundings at the Bouleuterion, at the Kladeos bank wall (together with J. Knauss, Obernach), and on the terrace, where the treasuries are located; conservation measures are also being implemented in the area of the stone warehouses, including the opening and restoration of individual monuments. Furthermore, restoration of the architecture of the Temple of Zeus is underway (under the care of W. Koenigs, Munich). 

Cooperation

All work by the DAI at Olympia is conducted in close cooperation with the Greek Antiquities Service and under the supervision of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. 

Contact

PD Dr. Reinhard Senff

Klassische Archäologie
Telefon: + 30-210-33 07 400
Telefax: + 30-210-381 47 62
Email: senff@athen.dainst.org
Further Email Addresses: sekretariat@athen.dainst.org

Further Contact Partners

Für das Forschungsprojekt »Olympia in der römischen Kaiserzeit und Spätantike«: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sinn, Seminar für Klassische Archäologie der Universität, D - 97070 Würzburg, Residenzplatz 2.

Bibliography

Important publications:
Olympia. Die Ergebnisse der vom Deutschen Reich veranstalteten Ausgrabung. Bd. I-V mit 4 Tafelbänden und 1 Mappe mit Plänen (1890-1897) Berichte über die Ausgrabungen in Olympia Bd. I-XI (1937-1999), Bd. XII (im Druck) Olympische Forschungen (= monographische Materialvorlagen), bislang 28 Bände (1944-2000) Detailed summaries
A. Mallwitz, Olympia uns seine Bauten (1972); H.-V. Herrmann, Olympia. Heiligtum und Wettkampfstätte (1972); A. Mallwitz - H.-V. Herrmann (Hrsg.), Die Funde aus Olympia (1980) Essays on special topics and preliminary reports on the excavation appear in various journals including among others, Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Athenische Abteilung; Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts; Archäologischer Anzeiger; Nikephoros; Antike Welt.