Katakolon,
Greece
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Olympia is in the western part of the Peloponnese and was originally a meeting place for politicians and worshippers. The Temple of Zeus, an imposing structure that, along with the statue inside, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, stood next to the Temple of Hera. Here, the original Olympic Games were held to highlight the physical prowess of its young people. The path into the stadium was the Path of Choice-- On the right side were sculptures and inscriptions of those who triumphed in their games and won a sacred crown of olive leaves. On the left, those who won not honor for themselves and homelands, but shame as they, too, received permanent display -not as a hero and winner, but as one who had cheated. Our word heretic is derived from the term given to an athlete that chose the wrong path. The stadium itself held 40,000 spectators, who either stood or sat on the grass. Men competed in javelin, discus, shot put, running and boxing. Since fire was considered to be a divine element by the classical Greeks, they maintained perpetual fires. These fires could only be lit by what we would call a parabolic mirror. The torch is still lit there every Olympic Games.
An earthquake destroyed The Temple of Zeus in 550 A.D. The ruins were buried by sediment from the mountain. In the museum, you can see part of the pediment of the Temple, reconstructed from what they have found in their excavations.
The port town of Katakolon wasn't much of anything except for some shops. We had another great dinner in the Main dining room and then went to hear a singer. After that, we danced a little before retiring for the night.
