Everyone knows of the Olympic Games but may not know that they originated at a site called Olympia in the northern Peloponnese which happened to be on our route to Patros port to catch the ferry to Italy.

We were surprised at how large the site was with some excavations still ongoing and although none of the original buildings were intact you still got a sense of walking around a small town.

The original games were founded by a man called Herakles to celebrate his victory against the king of Elis setting a four year cycle in honour of his four brothers.He declared that all disputes should cease for the duration of the games which was honoured for almost 1200 years when the Roman emperor Theodosios1 put a stop to the games.

To be eligible to compete you had to be a Greek male and a free person, women were not allowed to compete or attend as spectators. Competitors would come to Olympia a month before the games to train and have their fitness levels tested to ensure they were suitable to participate, many were excluded as unfit. The glory and fame to be an Olympic champion was seen as a great blessing and to be crowned with the Kotinos (the wreath of the wild olive) was the highest honour that could befall a mortal. The key events of boxing, wrestling, bull jumping and kybistisis (which was acrobatic somersaulting over swords in the ground) originated from the Minoan’s later Herakles added track and chariot racing.

A museum had been built on the site to house the many excavated artefacts which included statues and athletic equipment of the day.

Bye Bye Greece next stop Italy.