Olympia

Olympia was a ancient city in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. The sanctuary of Olympia was first inhabited in prehistoric times, and the first Olympic Games were held there in 776 BC. The Games were held every four years and were a major event in ancient Greece, bringing together athletes from all over the Greek world. Olympia was also home to a large stadium, which could seat up to 40,000 spectators. The stadium was the site of the athletic events during the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games were suspended in 394 AD by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who believed that they were pagan and had no place in a Christian world. The site of Olympia was subsequently abandoned and fell into disrepair. In the 19th century, interest in the ancient Olympic Games was revived, and the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. The Olympic Games have since become a major international event, held every four years and featuring athletes from around the world.

• Olympia was a major Panhellenic city of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout Classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.
• Olympia was a major religious center, dedicated primarily to the worship of Zeus. The Temple of Zeus in Olympia, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World housed a massive statue of Zeus that was over 12 meters tall.