Entrance archway from W, Olympia, Stadium

Overall view of vaulted entrance from inside stadium, Olympia, Stadium

Overview of stadium from E, Olympia

View within vaulted entrance from E, Olympia, Stadium

Entrance archway from SW, Olympia, Stadium

View across starting line from N, Olympia, Stadium

Context: Olympia
Type: Stadium
Summary: Oblong area; at the northeast corner of the Sanctuary of Zeus (Altis), east of the Treasury Terrace.
Date: ca. 775 BC - ca. 350 BC
Dimensions:

Track: 191.78 m from starting to finishing line; ca. 30 m wide.

Region: Elis
Period: Archaic


Plan:

Stone curb with water channel and basins surrounding flat oblong area oriented southwest-northeast. Stone starting and finishing lines. Built earth embankments on either long side with a small platform for judges seats on the southern bank.

History:

The ca. 775 B.C. track nearer the Pelopeion was displaced by an early Classical track farther northeast, and in turn replaced by this one outside the sanctuary boundary. The raised banks were frequently expanded and by the 4th century B.C. could accommodate up to 40,000 spectators. A Hellenistic vaulted entrance was added to the northwest corner of the stadium, just north of the Echo Hall.

Other Bibliography:

Mallwitz 1972, 181-189; Dinsmoor 1975, 250-251