Olympia: Recent Research at the Gymnasium, an Emblematic Monument of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (20 min)

Presenters

Erofili Kolia, Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia

Abstract

During the Hellenistic period, a monumental complex for the preparation of the athletes was erected northwest of the Altis and east of the Kladeos River at Olympia. The complex is composed of two buildings, each with a wide central courtyard surrounded by porticos, the palaestra and the gymnasium. The gymnasium is only partially preserved, since its west wing was washed away by the Kladeos River. The south portico, the propylon, and the south section of the east portico were excavated by the German Archaeological Institute, whereas the north portico has been detected in trial trenches, but not yet investigated. This paper will briefly present the results of the excavations carried out in the gymnasium by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia (Elis) in the frame of two consecutive projects financed by the European Union, NSRF 2007–2013 and NSRF 2014–2020 correspondingly. The excavations uncovered a 70-m-long section of the monument’s east portico and a large part of its central courtyard, as well as an area, approximately 328 m², east of the building, where a late Roman building was uncovered. Moreover, in the frame of the first project “Unearthing and Enhancement of the Gymnasium—Construction of New Entrance at the Archaeological Site of Olympia” (2013–2015) a new entrance to the site was constructed, while the second project “Unearthing and Enhancement of the Gymnasium—Phase B’’ (2021–2023) also included restoration works at the interior colonnade of the east portico. The research carried out in the years 2013–2025 and 2021–2023, has contributed significantly to a better understanding of both the size and the form of the monument, while it brought forward new data regarding the configuration of the sanctuary of Olympia in the years of late antiquity.