Olympia

“Longlisted for Anglo-Hellenic League’s Runciman Award”
This is a comprehensive and well-illustrated history of one the most important religious, political, and athletic sites in ancient Greece and Rome. The modern Olympic Games carry on the legacy of ancient Olympia. In ancient Olympia, Olympia was known for much more than just its athletic competitions. Judith Barringer’s Olympia is a richly illustrated and comprehensive history of Olympia, one of the most significant sites in the ancient Greek/Roman world. It was here that athletic competitions were held alongside and closely related to important religious and political activities. Barringer describes the creation of the Altis area, which is the most sacred part of Olympia. Here monuments honoring athletes who were successful in the games are joined by those honoring gods and battlefield victories. Rival rulers and city-states constructed monuments to establish eminence and tout alliances. This rich intergenerational dialogue brought together the illustrious company. Its status as the most important sanctuary for Zeus, the king of all the gods, was testament to its political significance. The Olympian oracle, which was used to predict war’s outcome, was consulted by Zeus, the god of warfare. The athletic games were a symbol of the fierce battle. At Olympia, other heroes and gods were also worshipped, Artemis and Hera among them. Barringer draws on an extensive knowledge of the archaeological records to describe the entire history of Olympia, starting with the construction of the first building in 600 BC and ending with the gradual disappearance of the site during the Christianized Roman period. The Olympia book is richly illustrated with diagrams and maps, bringing Olympia’s development to life for modern readers.