Panathenaic Stadium

The first modern Olympic Games were held right here, in this very stadium! Believe it or not, there’s been a huge stadium here ever since the 4th century BC. It had wooden seats and it hosted the ancient Olympic Games. At the time, the Olympic Games were held alongside the Great Panathenaea, a religious festival in honour of the city’s patroness, the goddess Athena – hence the name. During these celebrations, athletes from all over Greece competed in all sorts of games. The Olympic Games began long before the 4th century BC, but the stadium was built much later. It was actually reconstructed and clad in marble in the 2nd century AD. At that time, the Romans used the site to host gladiator fights. Athenians flocked by the thousands to watch them! FYI, the stadium could seat 70,000 people back then. The games continued to be organized every four years, but over time they lost their charm and eventually ceased to be held in the 4th century. The stadium was abandoned and it wasn’t used for centuries. In the 19th century, archaeological excavations unearthed the ruins of this monumental venue. Architect Ernst Ziller had it restored and reclad in white marble to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. In 2004, the stadium hosted the Olympic archery competitions and even served as the finish line for two marathons. In 1982, they built a second Olympic stadium for track and field events, as the Panathenaic Stadium no longer met modern standards. Today, you can take a guided tour of the inside and soak up the magic of this 2,500-year-old legendary venue!