Olympia - Greek Travels

Again, it's in a fantastic setting, and to walk along the ancient pathways, where the first Olympic athletes had trained and competed about three thousand years ago is an experience I won't forget.  Here one of the seven wonders of the ancient world was built and situated - the gold and ivory statue of Zeus, seven times larger than life, which was in the temple dedicated to him.  There too, the Olympic Flame was kept alight.

It is fascinating to explore the many buildings that are there, the gymnasium, the paleastra (wrestling school), the bath houses and the temples.

The track itself was two hundred metres long.  I walked about half way up the middle of the stadium, it was easy to imagine the noise and excitement that would have greeted the athletes - but I wouldn't have been allowed to be there in ancient times (unless I had been the high priestess), for women were not allowed to enter the stadium.   In fact to begin with, only free-born Greek males were allowed to compete, no big prizes were won - only a palm and an olive branch were awarded to the victors.