Olympic stadium athens greece. Panathinaikos Stadium
Sports fans will definitely choose the Panathinaikos Stadium in Athens among the countless attractions of the Greek capital. After all, it was here that the first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896, and this is where ancient athletes competed in ancient times. In addition, Panathinaikos is the only stadium in the world built entirely of white marble.
In ancient times, the Greeks held the Panathenaic Games, the prototype of the current Olympics, on the site of the current stadium. The competitions were considered a charitable cause, and during their holding all hostilities and conflicts were suspended. The winners received the status of chosen ones of the gods and were awarded laurel wreaths and olive branches from the sacred grove. They were also given amphoras containing precious olive oil.
Initially, the stadium had wooden benches for spectators; the construction of marble stands was carried out during the activity of Lycurgus. As the manager of public finances, he paid great attention to the recreation and development of the ancient festivals of the Athenians. It was Lycurgus in the 330s BC who organized the construction of an eternal stadium made of marble, which was updated and reconstructed in the 140s AD, during the reign of Herodes Atticus.
The stadium was discovered during excavations in the 19th century. Baron de Coubertin's idea of holding world sports competitions similar to the ancient games was supported in Greece, ensuring the restoration of the Panathinaikos stadium for the first modern Olympic Games. The Greek associate of the French enthusiast was the philanthropist Evangelis Zappas, who financed the necessary work.
The Marble Handsome, as its name can be translated, handled the holding of the world sports forum brilliantly. Subsequently, this stadium hosted both sporting competitions and concerts of outstanding masters of the world stage. In 2004, during the first Olympics of the new millennium in Athens, Panathinaikos Stadium hosted an archery tournament.
A significant object is located among the urban development of the capital and largest city Greece, surrounded by green spaces. There are other attractions within walking distance, worthy of attention tourists. Among them are the Zappeion Congress Hall and the National Garden of Athens, and the famous Acropolis is not very far away.
The marble bowl of the Panathinaikos stadium is located in a picturesque basin among the Athenian hills. Centuries-old trees tower around, forming a backdrop to the historic sports facility. The area in front of the entrance to the arena is decorated with carefully trimmed bushes, including hedges along the perimeter.
Indispensable attributes of tourist sites - souvenir kiosks and other retail outlets do not clutter up the territory too much, being located along the edges of the square and in the corners of the arena. The symbols of the Games are preserved on the flagpoles - national flags Greece and the flags of the International Olympic Committee.
Structurally, Panathinaikos Stadium is somewhat outdated by the standards of current requirements for the size of athletics tracks and sectors, but the beauty of its marble stands still attracts many tourists. From the edge of the square in front of the arena you can get unique shots of the rows of spectator seats, which have no analogues in the whole world.
Here tourists move not only on foot; they are allowed to drive along a special road, and on the square itself they use the latest electric scooters. In the arena itself, separated from the square by an almost invisible grille, only foot traffic is allowed.
The oval of the sports arena is formed by 50 tiers of marble stands with the same benches for spectators, divided into separate sectors. There are no separate seats here; fans are supposed to be seated freely.
The laconicism and simplicity of the design preserves the natural beauty of the natural mineral, something like this cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
The running tracks are equipped with a modern surface, the fencing structures of the throwing sectors have been dismantled to more clearly demonstrate the differences between the Panathinaikos Stadium and other arenas. The Olympic pedestal for the winners has been preserved as a monument to the champions and prize-winners of the competition.
The stands and running tracks of the famous sports facility are open to visitors. Many tourists actively use this both to simulate starts in the historical arena and to actually run along the tracks of the Panathinaikos stadium.
The picturesque nature around and the beauty of the marble guarantee excellent photographs that will long preserve the memory of visiting a wonderful arena of historical significance.
At the same time, the differences between the ancient arena and modern standards of athletics stadiums do not matter; on the contrary, historical authenticity comes to the fore.
Tourists visiting the stadium are photographed almost everywhere - on the marble stands and in the aisles, from where the rows of stands act as a unique backdrop for memorable photographs. Many consider the most winning photographs to be taken on the Olympic podium, and such shots are truly unique.
Those who like general plans will not fail to photograph general form stadium from one of the stands, which is also quite picturesque. From here, the strict layout of the spectator benches and the passages between them is especially clearly visible, and the geometric orderliness contrasts with the riot of surrounding vegetation.
Located in the Kallimarmaro area, east of the Zappeion Congress Hall and the National Garden.
Badseed, GNU 1.2On its initiative, the first Olympic Games in modern history were held in 1896.
Story
Antiquity
In ancient times, the stadium was the venue for the Panathenaic Games, dedicated to the patron goddess of the city, Athena. In the classical era, wooden benches were installed.
The stadium was built from marble in 329 BC. e. on the initiative of Archon Lycurgus.
A significant expansion and renovation of the stadium took place during the period of Herodes Atticus in 140 AD. e., then it had 50,000 seats.
Restoration of the stadium
The remains of the ancient building were excavated and restored in the mid-19th century at the expense of the Greek patriot Evangelis Zappas. With his support, the Olympic competitions of 1870 and 1875 were held at the stadium.
Άγνωστος/Unknown , Public Domain A second large-scale phase of work was carried out in 1895 to host the first modern Olympic Games, with the financial assistance of Georgios Averoff (his marble statue now stands at the entrance). The donations were made at the request of the heir, Prince Constantine.
The architects Anastasios Metaxas and Ernst Ziller were responsible for the project. Since the stadium in its modern form was built only at the beginning of the revival of the Olympic Games, it was built according to an old model (in particular, its running tracks do not meet modern accepted standards).
Matthew Mayer, GNU 1.2 The stadium of 50 horizontal rows of marble seats approximately 80,000 fans.
Until the mid-20th century, the Ilissos River flowed directly in front of the entrance to the stadium. During the spring flood of the river, floods often occurred, so this area received the name Frog Island. Later it was hidden under Vasily Konstantin Avenue.
Miguel.mateo, Public Domain In 2004, the stadium became one of the sports arenas for the Athens Olympics. It was the site of archery competitions.
The site chosen for the construction of the stadium was a ravine between Ardette Hill and the Ilisos River, near the city of Athens. It was private land, but its owner, Deinias, gave it to the city for the construction of a stadium. Excavation work transformed the ravine into a site with the characteristics of a Greek stadium: with an entrance on one side and seating for spectators on three slopes. When in 338 BC. the speaker Lycurgus became in charge of the city’s finances; he made a significant contribution to the construction, including the stadium. According to the testimony of Plutarch, dating back to the second half of the 4th century. BC, “[many] buildings that he accepted unfinished, he completed; for example, shipyards and the armory. Lycurgus surrounded the Panathenaic stage with a [supporting] wall, finishing it, and leveled the hollow [where it was located]...".
The first competitions in the stadium were held in 330/29 BC. e. during the celebration of the Great Panathenaia, dedicated to the patroness of the city, the goddess Athena. A significant expansion and renovation of the stadium took place during the period of Herodes Atticus in 139-144. The stadium took the shape of an elongated horseshoe and 50,000 marble seats, a marble bridge was built across Ilisos for access from the city to the stadium, and the Tyche temple with a statue in the chrysoelephantine technique was built on the top of Ardette.
Restoration of the stadium
The remains of the ancient structure were excavated and restored in the mid-19th century with funds from the Greek patriot Evangelis Zappas. With his support, the stadium hosted the 1870 and 1875 Olympic competitions.
A second large-scale phase of work was carried out in 1895 to host the first modern Olympic Games, with the financial assistance of Georgios Averoff (his marble statue now stands at the entrance). The donations were made at the request of the heir apparent, Prince Constantine. The architects Anastasios Metaxas and Ernst Ziller were responsible for the project. Since the stadium in its modern form was built only at the beginning of the revival of the Olympic Games, it was built according to an old model (in particular, its running tracks do not meet modern accepted standards). The stadium of 50 horizontal rows of marble seats approximately 80,000 fans.
This is one of the unusual and unique attractions of Athens, a visit to which leaves a lasting impression. The snow-white stands of the stadium blend harmoniously with the blue sky, and in the lower part of the sports facility the coal-black running tracks stand out in contrast.
The history of the stadium goes back more than 2 thousand years - it was created in 329 BC, and became the venue for the Panathenaic Games. After 500 years, the wooden stands were replaced by marble ones, and the number of seats increased to 50,000. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the stadium fell into disrepair. A new stage in its history began only at the end of the 19th century, when the world community decided to resume the Olympic Games.
History of Panathinaikos Stadium
Second name of Panathinaikos stadium - « Callimarmaro”, which translated means “beautiful marble”. Its stands are carved from white marble, mined from the mines of Mount Pendelikon - the same material was used to build the Acropolis of Athens. The sun's rays, illuminating the stadium's lining, give it a golden hue, so the stands look especially impressive during sunset.
In ancient times, the Panathinaikos stadium served as a venue for sports competitions called Panathenaic. They were held at intervals of 4 years, and were distinguished by their special pomp and grandeur. Traditionally, the winners of the Games were given olive wreaths and special clay vessels filled to the brim with sacred oils. About 1,000 Panathenaic amphorae have survived to this day, which is about 1% of their total number.
was founded in 329 BC. at the insistence of the Athenian statesman Lycurgus. Previously, there was an old amphitheater on this site, which was used not only for sports competitions, but also for speeches by politicians. Since popularity Panathenaic Games constantly increased, after several centuries the stadium could no longer cope with the influx of visitors, and in 140 AD. was significantly expanded. Since that time, its capacity has been 50,000 people, which was a kind of record for the ancient world.
The entrance to the stadium was from the northwestern side - here the stands opened, giving the structure the shape of an elongated horseshoe. Sculptures of gods made of marble, ivory and even gold were installed along the entire perimeter. In order to get to the territory of Panathinaikos, it was necessary to cross the Ilissos River on a marble bridge, the design of which was also distinguished by its originality and luxurious detailing.
With the collapse of the Roman Empire, a dark era began for Greece. For some time, while the country was still part of the Byzantine Empire, the state provided all possible support to such sectors of public life as religion and sports, but after the capture of Greece by the Turks, issues of the development of Greek culture faded into the background. soon fell into disrepair and was forgotten until the 19th century. When the stadium was remembered, barely noticeable outlines remained on the grass- and tree-covered hillsides.
In 1870, the Greek philanthropist and patriot Evangelos Zappas came up with the idea to resume the event. Panathenaic Games. Thanks to his generous financial support, Panathinaikos stadium was completely restored and became the center of the revival of the modern Olympic Games.
In 1895, a new, large-scale stage of restoration work began - thus the stadium was prepared for the First Olympic Games, revived by Pierre de Coubertin. Financial support for the construction was provided by Georgios Averoff, and Anastasios Metaxas and Ernst Ziller were appointed architects. The authors of the project tried to carry out restoration work with maximum reliability, so the ancient stadium does not fully meet modern sports requirements - its running tracks have too sharp a bend at the turns, which greatly affects the performance of the races.
Current state of Panathinaikos Stadium
At the moment Panathinaikos stadium rarely used for its intended purpose - art exhibitions, theatrical performances and performances by world-class musicians are often held here. Thanks to the special properties of natural marble, the sound inside the amphitheater is amplified many times over. This feature was actively used in ancient times, building theaters in the form of stepped bowls.
The Panathinaikos Amphitheater differs from other similar modern structures in the complete absence of soft seats or separate seats. The design of this sports facility is made in full accordance with the ancient style - horseshoe-shaped horizontal rows for spectators are separated by vertical passages. The north-western, open side of the stadium faces towards Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue. Previously, in the section in front of the main entrance, the small river Ilissos flowed, which also served as the natural border of the Acropolis. Before it was enclosed in concrete pipes in the mid-20th century, Ilissos often overflowed, making access to the stadium difficult. Because of this feature, the hilly area near Panathinaikos was popularly called “Frog Island”.
For the XXVIII Olympic Games, held in Athens in 2004, the stadium was again reconstructed. From August 12 to 21, the best athletes in the world competed here in archery. In their interviews, the competitors said that they felt an incredible surge of pride that they were able to perform at this famous stadium, which hosted the 1896 Olympic Games.
Tourist excursions to Panathinaikos Stadium
The program of many tours available to travelers when visiting the Greek capital includes a visit to Panathinaikos stadium. It is within walking distance of the world famous Acropolis, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the National (Royal) Garden and Zappeion buildings, so visiting this attraction will not be difficult, even with a busy excursion schedule.
During your visit to the stadium, you will be provided with a small electronic device with an earphone - an audio guide. Thus, you can independently explore all the nooks and crannies of the stadium, and the smart device will tell you interesting information and facts from history sports complex.
There is a permanent photo exhibition at the stadium, the exhibits of which are dedicated to ancient history Panathinaikos, its development and sports life. In addition, an excellent memorable photo session can be arranged on the podium, which is open to the public. The stadium is constantly open for tours and offers individual and group tours throughout the year. If you follow a healthy lifestyle, then try going for a morning jog while wearing this historical place. The reward will be not only good health, but also the opportunity to watch the dawn on the marble stands, which have seen the joy of victory, the bitterness of disappointment and the grandeur of triumphal processions.
Getting to the stadium is quite easy - it is located in the very center of Athens, and is surrounded on all sides by famous landmarks. You can get here by metro, get off at the Acropolis station and walk to the ruins ancient temple Olympian Zeus, and from there go directly to the stadium. The full admission price is 5 euros, for students and people over 65 years old - 2.5 euros. This price includes not only the right to enter the site, but also the rental of an electronic audio guide, the chance to test your strength in running along the stadium tracks and an exciting tour of the interior of Panathinaikos. In addition, you will have the opportunity to freely take photographs of your surroundings and visit the exhibition halls with an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Olympic Games. For children under 6 years old, disabled people and people accompanying them, admission is completely free. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to purchase a ticket via the Internet, so to organize an excursion you will need to contact the ticket office located near the main entrance.
open all year round. During the tourist season (March to October) it is open from 8 am to 7 pm, and at other times from 8 am to 5 pm.
Panathinaikos Stadium (Greece) - description, history, location. The exact address, phone, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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The Greek Panathinaikos Stadium in Athens is widely famous for two things. Firstly, it became a pioneer among Olympic stadiums, because it was on its site that the world's first modern Olympic Games were held. Secondly, the stadium is entirely made of white marble, which is unique in itself. Translated from Greek, the name of the stadium means “beautiful marble.” To this day, the stadium is considered one of the most significant cultural monuments not only in Athens, but throughout Greece.
Hundreds of famous musicians gave concerts at the Panathinaikos arena, in particular R.E.M., Jose Carreras, Depeche Mode, etc.
Panathinaikos is located on the site of an ancient Hellenic amphitheater, built long before our era. For several centuries, sports games and competitions dedicated to the goddess Athena were held here. And even now the Panathinaikos Stadium never ceases to serve its purposes. Thus, as part of the 2004 Athens Olympics, archery competitions were held here.
The construction of the Panathinaikos Stadium occurred at the very beginning of the development of the modern Olympic Games, and therefore its design is somewhat non-standard. In particular, the length of treadmills differs from generally accepted modern standards. The stadium itself consists of fifty horizontal rows and seats about 80 thousand people.
During a visit to the stadium, each guest is given a special sound device - an audio guide. It tells about the main facts from the history of the stadium, significant events and prospects. Information is available in eleven languages, including Russian. The territory of the complex is landscaped with a green park and nice sculptures in honor of ancient Greek athletes. An exhibition of historical photographs dedicated to the first Olympics is on permanent basis in the indoor area of the stadium.