Olympia

One more thing I wanted to say about Delphi. If I could compare climbing up that mountain to anything, it would be in the end of Return of the King, when Frodo and Sam are climbing up Mount Doom to throw the ring into the fire. Except no eagles came to save me.

Today we traveled by bus to Olympia, the birthplace of the original Olympic games.

I got a little carsick on the ride here, and so I took a drammamine, which knocked me out for about five hours. I was tired until like 4 pm!

We went to the ancient Olympia site and museum, which I wasn't actually interested in until we got there. It was really neat to see the place where the Olympics started, because even though they were revived in what, the 1800's? its an event that's been around for thousands of years.

The modern town of Olympia is pretty sleepy, apart from the tourists. One guy came out of his shop while we were walking by and told us to come in to see his photo album. He was proud because someone in his family carried the Olympic torch when the Olympics were here in 2004.

I didn't recognize any artifacts in the museum, but some of them were interesting. Like the fact that they have the largest collection of bronze figurines and helmets.

Gorgon head shield device. Decorated with incised anthemia and foliate ornaments on the forehead. There are hammered and incised protames of snakes on the circumference.

Sheet in the shape of a winged Gorgonian, as a shield device. Hammered and cut out. It has a medallion in the center with a Gorgonian and around it are three sickle shaped wings. The Gorgonian has inlaid bone eyes, and the tresses of the hair in the forms of snakes, the four canines and the tongue hanging out enhance the apotropaic character of the figure. It was among the most widespread shield devices and modelled on the head of the Medusa, who according to myth could turn to stone whoever looked at her. Peloponnesian or Ionian workshop, 6th century BC.

Statue probably of the emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) It was erected in the east monopteral naiskos of the Nymphaion.

You knew Marcus Arelius?

I did not say I knew him! I said he touched me on the shoulder once.

Corinthian style bronze helmets.

Hermes of Praxiteles (340-330 BC)

The Messenger of the gods, charged by Zeus to take the infant Dionysus to the Nymphs, who were to nurse him, rests on the way having thrown his cloak over a tree trunk. In his raised right arm he was probably holding a bunch of grapes, as a symbol associated with the future god of wine. The sculpture is unique because although there are many that portray female figures with children, hardly any portray males with children.

In front of the entrance to the running track.

The running track.

Some of the group going to dinner.