Today's main classical place was Olympia, home of the Ancient Greek Games and from where the Olympic torch is lit every four year before travelling around the world to its new host nation. The first Olympics with the flame wS Hitler's Germany!
An image of the wrestlers pavillion.
We found an olive branch wreath on the ground, so all took turns wearing it. Olive wreaths were presented to the winners.
The workshop in which Psaides worked to created a 20 meter high statue of Zeus was built in pieces in this area. Soon after the disciples came to Greece, the worshop was converted into a small community church. The slate plinths were carved with the Christian symbol, the cross to protect the bascillica.
The first temple built on the site was in fact not to the god Zeus, but the goddess, Hera.
The entrance to the stadium allowed the athletes to present themselves to the audience. They had to pass through this tunnel into the space behind.
Here is our tour group of four starting at the starting line, depicted by the marble lines beneath our feet. At the other end there is another marble line shoeing the end. The ancient games took place over five days. A truce was declared amongst all the Greek tribes for two months in order to allow the athletes to travel to and from the centre in peace as well as training and cempetition time.
These sculptures were on the facia end of the temple to Zeus. Built in marble.
Nike, the god of victory, once very colourful with blue tunic and red belt.
We crossed the Gulf of Corinth on this beautifully designed bridge, a collaboration between a Greek and Dutch consortium. The bridge is designed with expansion in mind. The gulf of Corinth lies on a tetatonic fault line and the span increases by 15mm per year, so the bridge is designed and built to be able to expand over time.
This afternoon we arrived at Delfi, navel of the world. This is the view from our hotel window.
And lastly we walked the streets of this beautifully quaint town.
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