Now one of the most watched sporting events in the world and a global symbol of unity, the Olympic Games have come a long way from their humble origins in ancient Greece. Then held as a religious festival to honor the deity Zeus, the Ancient Olympics trace back to as early as 776 BC. Every four years, the games brought together hopefuls from around Greece to the city of Olympia to compete in a series of athletic events. Instead of medals, participants hoped to win victory wreaths – and to bring ultimate honor to their city-states. The Games continued until 339 AD, when Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned them under claims that they promoted paganism.
But in 1894, French historian and educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin proposed a full revival of the Olympics and led efforts to establish the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the entity that is responsible for organizing the Games today. The IOC decided to host the first modern Olympics in Athens as a way to hearken back to their ancient roots. To do so, they set out to restore Athens’ Panathenaic Stadium, originally built in 330 BC. Having endured a long history of destruction and restoration, the Panathenaic Stadium was revitalized and became the only stadium in the world to be made entirely of marble.
As modern Olympic villages cycle through cities every four years, the Panathenaic Stadium still stands in Athens, accepting thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
A Trip to Greece’s Panathenaic Stadium
When you reach the stadium’s entrance, you’re greeted by a statue of George Averoff, the wealthy Greek businessman who funded the stadium’s initial restoration in 1896. Averoff, who became one of the wealthiest Greeks in the diaspora after finding success in agriculture and banking in Egypt and Russia, also funded the stadium’s subsequent development in 1904. Inscribed into the statue is the message, “To the national benefactor George Averrof, [from] the fatherland in gratitude.”
As you step into the center of the stadium, it’s difficult not to feel overwhelmed by its size. The Panathenaic Stadium is believed to hold 50,000 spectators in its seemingly endless rows of seats. Over time, hundreds of thousands of audience members have passed through its aisles, gathering to watch everything from sports competitions and equestrian races to theatrical performances and musical events.
If you want to feel like an Olympian, you can go for a jog around the stadium’s track – it’s even open for regular public use from 7:30 am – 9:00 am – though it quickly proves tiresome, especially in the Greek summer heat.
Just off the stadium’s main concourse and hidden underneath the stands is a passageway. While it currently leads to a museum, the tunnel was once frequented by ancient gladiators and athletes as they prepared to take the stage for a competition or a match. Referred to by some as the “Hole of Fate,” the tunnel is also said to have been used by ancient oracles and spiritual leaders as they held ritual animal sacrifices.
Today, a journey through the tunnel culminates in a small museum showcasing Olympic posters from Games past. Though there wasn’t an official poster for the 1896 Games, the museum does house the cover page of the official report from 1896, which has become a symbol of the first Games and offers a visual marker of the onset of the modern era.
Alongside the posters sit the torches that have held the Olympic flame for each iteration of the Games. The Olympic flame is recognized as a symbol of unity and continuity between the ancient and modern. As such, each Olympic Games is preceded by the lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia, Greece, the original host site of the ancient Games. This sets off the torch relay; as the onset of the Games draws near, the torch and its flame are transported from Olympia to Athens, and then on a unique route to the site of that year’s Games. The flame’s final destination is the opening ceremony of the Games, where it is used to light the Olympic cauldron and officially mark the Games’ commencement. This year, the flame made its way to France by boat across the Mediterranean Sea and all throughout the country before reaching Paris.
If you find yourself in Athens, be sure to pay a visit to the Panathenaic Stadium. Whether you’re a history buff or just obsessed with all things Olympics, a trip to the stadium offers the incredible experience to journey through time, exploring where ancient meets modern and honoring the birthplace of the Games as we know them today.
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