Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of antiquity - Πραξιτέλη Κονδύλη 4

If someone is to visit a few historical sites in their life, this is definitely one.

The place is good, full of history. But I'm giving 1 star, because of the women working there. They were talking and laughing so load all the time, that we could hear them at the other end of the museum. I literally had the feeling that I went to visit a chicken farm!

More than 400 exhibits, dated from the prehistoric period to the 5th century A.D., are presented in thematic groups. The majority comes from Olympia, but also on display there are many ancient works of art from other important sites of Greece . We can have a complete understanding of the historical development of the Olympic Games and the other panhellenic festivals (the Pythian at Delphi, the Nemean at the sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea and the Isthmian Games at the sanctuary of Poseidon near Corinth) through a wide selection of exhibits, as well as information panels and visual material. Among the most important exhibits are the gold rings-seals with the first representations of athletic competitions, representative examples of the Minoan and Mycenaean art, bronze and clay geometric figurines of warriors and chariots coming from Olympia. Also, equipment used by athletes, such as discs, halterai (weights for long jump), arryballoi (small oil vases) strigils (for scrapping the dust from the skin) etc. Furthermore, exhibited in the galleries the visitor can enjoy a variety of interesting inscribed bases of statues of athletes who adorned the sacred Altis during antiquity, which constitute an inexhaustible source of information, also different small bronze figurines of athletes and many vases and vessels decorated with scenes of athletic performances. The basement of the museum is equipped with the so called digital exhibition, a wide variety of high tech devices and computer systems. It is mostly availiable for schools and universities where students can be informed and educated about the Games in antiquity through scientific multimedia content (texts, pictures, maps, videos, 3-d representations of the ancient games, an interactive 3D theater etc). Notice that a booking of the visit should be made in advance. Contact the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia, the responsible administration authority of the Museum.

Cool museum right by the parking spaces. 1 out of 3 museums in the area that are connected to each other. Sadly the tickets are bought in the middle of the 3 so I recommend that you save this one until you are back at the parking lot.

Very informative museum. It is hard to believe the ancient games lasted for more than a millennia every four years without an exception.

Visited this morning, was part of the 3 sites ticket. The ladies at reception were quite rude and loud (could hear them yell and laugh from the other side of the museum). Otherwise the museum is pretty interesting, with a lot of information about the games.

Very interesting show about fascinating details around the Olympic Games of Antiquity, with special focus on curiosities and the Olympic disciplines from that time. Visitors will have a good picture of the historical development of the Olympics and the other Hellenic Games of antiquity.

Not bad museum which is specializes on the history of the Olympic Games only. Good for a short 30-minute dive into the history of the games.