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The Archaeological Museum of Olympia complements historically, scientifically and artistically the most famous ancient sanctuary dedicated to the worship of Zeus. In the consciousness of present-day civilization, however, Olympia is best known for the pan-Hellenic games held in 776 BCE - 393 AD, forerunners of the current Olympic Games. Appearing since the dawn of Greek civilization, the Sanctuary of Olympia became the most important pan-Hellenic religious, political and sports center of ancient Greece.
The museum contains a large number of artifacts identified on the grounds and in the vicinity of the nearby archaeological site of Olympia. The exhibits, with details in subtitles, are presented in chronological order and are grouped thematically in 11 rooms that form a kind of circuit around a large central hall that houses sculptures from the Temple of Zeus, which housed the famous Statue of Zeus, one of the 7 wonders of antiquity. Incidentally, many other pieces come from the two main temples (Zeus and Hera) of the sanctuary. From the point of view of history and artistic periods, the exhibition space covers the entire period of Olympia's existence, from the Prehistoric period (2700-2000 BCE), passing through the Mycenaean (1600-1100 BCE), Geometric and Archaic periods (the centuries 9 - 6 BCE), the "Severe" style period (Early Classic, 490-450 BCE, in which the Temple of Zeus is also decorated), the Roman period (2nd century BC - 3rd century AD) and ending with the period of abandonment of the site (6th-7th centuries AD).
In the Archaeological Museum of Olympia we meet various exhibits and especially statues that appear in textbooks and art history books. Among these we mention:
- the world's largest collection of offerings to the God Zeus (Geometric and Archaic periods)
- the terracotta "acroterion" that crowned the Temple of the Goddess Hera in Olympia
- the cornice of the Treasury of Gela and the pediment of the Treasury of Megara
- Head of the Goddess Athena, ceramic, early 5th century BC.
- the metopes with the Labors of Hercules and the two statuary compositions of the pediments, eastern - "The Chariot race of Pelops and Oinomaos"" and western - "Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs" on the Temple of Zeus, in the "Severe" style
- the statue of Zeus (reproduction) made by Phidias, the greatest sculptor of antiquity, and his workshop
- the "Zeus and Ganymides" statuary ensemble, made of terracotta, the beginning of the 5th century B.C.
- "Statue of Nike" (Victorious Goddess), 420 BCE of the sculptor Paionios
- The statue of Hermes with the Infant Dionysus (4th century BC) by the sculptor Praxitele
- statues from the Roman period: the offering bull at the (Fountain) Nymphaion and various statues of Roman emperors and empresses - Adrian, Marcus Aurelius, Titus, Julia Agrippina, etc.
12 мар 2024
