A short distance from the fishing village and seaport of Katakolon lies Olympia, arguably the most important location in all of sports. It is the site of the original Olympic Games, which occurred every four years for nearly 1,200 years until a Roman emperor banned them in A.D. 393. The ruins were uncovered about 150 years ago, and today, Olympia’s significance is much better understood. It has been declared a national park. There is a wealth of history on display in Olympia at the original sites, such as the Temple of Zeus, the Olympic Stadium, and the Olympia Archaeological Museum, which features fine sculptures such as the “Winged Victory” statue of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
