Olympia: The Site of the Ancient Olympics

The city where the Ancient Olympic Games have their origin is one of the best examples of Ancient Greek urban planning. Today we explore the city with reconstructed models that breathe life into its ruins to understand the architecture, and the Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Subtitles available in several languages.
Mira el vídeo en español: • Olimpia: La antigua ci...
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The Sanctuary of Olympia: 00:00
The Altis: 0:47
Philippeion: 1:14
Prytaneion: 1:45
Temple of Hera: 1:55
Nymphaeum: 3:10
Pelopion: 3:35
Temple of Zeus: 4:08
Statue of Zeus at Olympia: 5:56
Echo Stoa: 7:40
Treasuries: 8:20
Stadium: 9:00
Gymnasium: 10:46
Palaestra: 11:28
Arrangement of the buildings: 12:15
Decline of Olympia:15:50

[@ManuelBravo]

What’s your favorite Greek City?

[@Nunezskv]

Thessaloniki

[@kosmasgvl1615]

​@@Nunezskvgreetings from Thessaloniki Macedonia 🇬🇷

[@mariettamollolucic4512]

No he tenido la oportunidad de visitar Grecia, pero por lo que he visto en videos, cada ciudad tiene algo que la hace fascinante y que me anima a conocer. Saludos.

[@mariettamollolucic4512]

Muchas gracias Manuel, como siempre digo aprendo mucho viendo tus videos, escuchando tu relato, ni hablar de las reconstrucciones, son increíbles, con ellas puedo ver cómo eran estos lugares en sus mejores tiempos. Incluso leyendo los comentarios puedo aprender. Así que gracias a todos los seguidores también. Y gracias a los Dioses, podré visitar Atenas en abril, así que estoy feliz. 🎉🎉

[@Allright890]

Santorini Greece 🧐

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

These reconstructions are the most tasteful I have seen. The narration is very engaging with plenty of detail yet very composed.

[@gerardkiff2026]

How amazing it would be to travel back in time to see it in its glory. Thanks for giving us a taste. I also was wondering why the buildings were placed so wonky but you explained it beautifully. Great job as always.

[@keithc.bevins926]

I would love for these ancient areas to be recreated today.

[@wolpumba4099]

amazing that they fitted the outline of the buildings into the landscape

[@dennisdrayna9383]

Amazingly clear and informative. Increased my understanding of Olympus tremendously.

[@MikoCookieMiko]

that's a different place

[@mylesgarcia4625]

Excellent video, Manuel! Brings back memories of when I visited there in 2010! Muchas gracias. Good job.

[@michaelsapienza8749]

philosophy of architecture 🖤

[@doribear9599]

"Thanks to your work, we can enjoy the magnificent architecture of the ancient world."

[@stevankordic6316]

Splendid video, as always! Thank you for making them. I find them particularly interesting because your ability to "read" and present the space & architectural conceptions of the past. As a photographer of the historic architecture, I find your videos highly informative & inspiring!

[@edgarsnake2857]

Outstanding. Thanks. You really bring these ancient places to life.

[@tj2745]

Stunning presentation! Have never seen anyone cover this site except in textbooks now very old. Superb work!

[@fmaximo1979]

This video was so wonderful, Manuel, that I don't have enough words to describe how much I loved it. It was the best-done description I've ever seen about Olympia. I will soon see your video about Delphi, and I would also love if you could make a video reconstructing ancient Thebes, if you haven't already done so and I will look for it later. A big hug from Brazil.

[@josephpiskac2781]

Thank you again! I hope you are recognized and rewarded for this excellent work.

[@Jurek009]

I can't begin to tell you how much I love your videos. So well thought out and so well narrated.

[@wagnerpolveiro]

Very impressive and absolutely beautiful..., thanks for sharing !

[@Qigate]

I love these walk-abouts in history with you. I enjoy your 'eye' for the perspective and appreciation of architecture. Always nicely done !

[@nickbartman3250]

Neverendlingly informative, presented and above all researched. Manuel’s work should be the subject of school classes as well, if it is not already. Thanks, as always ~ Nick.

[@marclopez9492]

Manuel, please make one video on the Great Tenochtitlan before the conquistadors came to what is today Mexico City. To show how their sophisticated sewage system was, the engineering of their man-made land, AND of course, the architecture of their multiple pyramids (there were “encased” one within another, like matrioskas). etc.

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

I appreciate all the time and effort that went into this.

[@toinsola]

Thanks so much, am looking forward to see it

[@kevinabiwardani7550]

I love how you can portray the feels of being in Olympia during its glorious days. The building comparison based on the models you created also pu things into perspective, which is a very rare sight on the internet. A great video for learning about the history! Although you shouldn't put a view on which culture is superior. Any culture in the world has their own specialty and way of life. Especially about cityscaping, try to look at Vijayanagara in India, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Gyeongbokkung Palace in Korea. They're all has their own preference and shouldn't be considered superior than the other. Otherwise, a very educational video.

[@MikoCookieMiko]

Greek city building is superior

[@kevinabiwardani7550]

@@MikoCookieMiko Superior in term of what? Material usage? Space usage? Perspective usage? Convenience and infrastructure? Planning? Each civilization has their own distinct way to build their city. I doubt that 3 century BC Greece city plan will be superior compared to the modern city we build in 21st century. Since people needs also always been changing. Go search and learn city plannings through time like Chichen Itza, Baghdad, Karakorum, Paris, and many more. Open your mind and see the world instead of bragging for something you never do.

[@MariaTeresaSainz]

Otro gran video, Manuel. Muchas felicidades por este gran trabajo!!

[@nightsazrael]

Olympia is my favorite. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@thijslammers4356]

Amazing work Manuel

[@jeff__w]

How did the Greek architects figure out the outlines joining up with the landscapes 15:00 and 15:27? These videos are so amazingly well-done! The explanations are crystal clear and the visuals complement the explanations perfectly. If you’re a “team of one,” I honestly don’t know you do it it.

[@Ralampos]

Greeks made the most advancements in Geometry, there's a reason you use Greek letters. Half of the Mathematical stuff in highschool was 1000-3000 years old anyway.

[@jeff__w]

@@Ralampos I get that but did the Greeks make blueprints and elevations so they could see the planned buildings in the context of the landscapes? I didn’t think so but maybe they did or something like that-or maybe, as you seem to be implying, they could tell simply by their measurements and geometry.

[@kidmohair8151]

the quality of your reconstructions are excellent! oh alright... and the tours of the places as they exist today are pretty good too.

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

Ancient Greece💯

[@j.nilsson5362]

Great video. Thanks

[@scrollop]

What a great video, as always? The greatest reconstructions really evoke what it could have been like and then the way you cut in your video of the current side is fantastic! Did you create the CG models? Also what is very much appreciated is the time you spend on the details of the site including going from building to building with the great overhead map. From knowing nothing about this place then watching your great video I feel as though I've been there back thousands of years ago. Congratulations!

[@dubuyajay9964]

Sparta video someday? Despite the lack of flashy buildings in their city?

[@parkex]

Thank you so much for this as we can now better visualize the original Olympia site & the genius behind it. Visited in 2019 (an hour drive from our ancestral home).

[@revianto1]

Superb [as always] Thank you so much Mario

[@guacamoleIsExpensive]

keep doing what you are doing! amazing work

[@renatolle1]

Tus videos son fascinantes y educativos. Hermoso trabajo Manuel !!

[@5060ijg]

Beautiful production and so informative. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm on this subject.

[@JS.436]

Well done. Learned a lot. Thank you!

[@omegaroyal]

As always love your work.

[@danny53012]

As always, a thoroughly enjoyable presentation. I always learn so much from your videos and they are presented in the most accessible style. Thank you so much!👏👍❤

[@georgenorris2657]

Absolutely fascinating. I have seen other videos about Olympia but this is surely the best. Definitely subscribing

[@punkinholler]

I love your videos and i very much appreciate that you produce them in English as well as Spanish. Im sure it must be a pain to record them twice so thanks for putting in the effort.

[@feleepe]

These videos are not only gorgeous to watch, but I learn so much from them. I especially love the commentary on the design of the spaces in Greek cities. Your passion for the subject really shines through. Amazing content! ❤

[@andrewdale6856]

Love your videos. Very informative and show so much passion in what you do. Graphics are incredible, giving us and insight into how things looked in accent times. Thank you 🤗

[@zapfanzapfan]

Very interesting, I just watched the lighting of the torch for Paris.

[@MonsieurChapeau]

Wonderful video, sad that these principles of incorporating the landscape and visual axis are no longer applied, thank you for enlightening us👌

[@tomsmith4542]

well done !!

[@user-sn6dz2ie4k]

Been there last month. Just phenomenal !

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

Many thanks ❤ 🍀🤗

[@amadeusdollarsindustries8902]

i love greco-roman architecture and seeing this gave me my fix

[@danielhensel-leeson9423]

EXCELENTE. SALUDOS DESDE ARGENTINA.

[@telemaco1888]

Hola saludos Manuel excellente video tienes informacion sobre Corinth

[@daveweiss5647]

Great video! The ancient world was so advanced and civilized, Imagine where we would be if it had not fallen into the dark ages!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Thanks!

[@ManuelBravo]

Welcome!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

The Romans took nearly all of the original bronze statues, which were metaled down in later times when some emperor/king needed metal coin for his armies or some pope for his self-glorification project. They replaced these fine-quality, free-standing statues with inferior marble copies, which needed clumsy devices like added tree stumps, etc. to stand erect, unlike the original bronze ones. They also didn’t understand or appreciate the carefully-designed layout and architecture of these sites, which looked random to them, the Philistines that they were. I don’t think anyone has yet matched the beauty of Classical Greek architecture, though it’s the most widely-copied in the world. Thank you for this wonderful, detailed video, from which I learned a lot and which I really enjoyed. Your Greek pronunciation is the best I’ve heard on YT. But, it’s Athena Parthenos (the virgin) not Parathenos. 🙂

[@StoneHerne]

😃 Wonderful! 😃

[@TTP7168]

Bien hecho

[@gabrielpisciottano6077]

Felicitaciones Manuel x este video tan bueno como otros anteriores. Podria comentar muchos detalles. Pero solo 1; la doble foto c las columnas del Path. y LC y la tuya con el templo Zeus @ Oimp. es muy linda y buena x muchos motivos... uno x q da clara idea ¡¡¡del tamaño / diametro de esas columnas!!! Me pregunto x las tecnicas estructurales y las constructivas... Habria infinitas preguntas. Y la observacion sobre ese arco (casi unico) muy interesantes. Fflicitaciones nuevamente; desde Montevideo, Uruguay

[@zarlonrafael6805]

Meu deus que vídeo bom 👏✨🇧🇷

[@70M80]

Any recommendations on further reading/viewing of Greek architecture? The unity of architecture and landscape is really inspiring; I feel like this is often forgotten about with contemporary revivals which tend to focus on the columns.

[@user-og2kx5ic6n]

The best teacher is experience learned from failures.

[@joseantoniovelilla7807]

El lugar es increíble 😊

[@user-ku6tr4vd6z]

For years, I have thought that the modern Olympics should be held at Olympia instead of being moved around every 4 years. I think there's some very good reasons to do this: 1st being that Olympia is both the origin and spiritual home of the games; 2nd because the cost of building an olympic village and infrastructure for host countries is astronomical and, incredibly wasteful for a one-time use. And 3rd, as has happened with depressing regularity, the competition among hosts to be chosen has encouraged lots of corruption within the Olympics.

[@jestfuldemigod]

Very well composed, are you an architect by any chance?

[@tomsmith4542]

The city where the Ancient Olympic Games have their origin

[@coulie27]

Absolutely amazing 🤩

[@NO1jkpg]

I hope they one day can rebuild everything

[@annwilliams6438]

Thanks

[@ManuelBravo]

Thank you, Ann!

[@donaquinilator4959]

Are the greeks aware of all the history they have?? It’s amazing

[@neon-kitty]

Vaults and arches were actually not uncommon in ancient Macedonia and spread from there throughout the Hellenistic world in the Hellenistic period. Initially the Macedonians mainly used them in tombs but they also came to be used in residential and public buildings during the Hellenistic period. So while Romans definitely used vaults and arches a lot more frequently than the Greeks did (and built much larger vaults and arches than the Greeks could), I wouldn't say that they were rare before the Roman period. Perhaps in mainland Greece (except for Macedonia) but certainly not in the entire Greek world.

[@dmd5645]

Wow!. I've been watching you for a couple of years now. And I love your new style!. Relaxed, informative, casual , all while showing us the recreations of these places and what those places meant to those that were alive back then. As a Christian, a wholehearted believer in Jesus Christ, I'm struck by how much the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians and it's relevance to this very belief system of the Greeks. Paul said this to the craftsmen making "idols" of the fertility goddess. He said, "Why worship the things made with men's hands, why not worship the God who made men's hands". Paul fled for his life after saying these words to those making a living off of pilgrims buying these trinkets. The craftsmen realized they would have no more income if Paul achieved success. But, those words are always TRUTH. No matter the generation or the beautiful things crafted-temples, trinkets, whatever. They all go the way God said in the Old testament, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.". And, that's exactly what happens here and everything else down through these 3000 years. But beautiful script and beautiful imagery! Stunning!. Bravo! 👏👏🍾

[@user-bl6qu9dg7m]

All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea.

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Given all the geometrical considerations that seem to underlie the size and position of buildings relative to their surroundings, I would be very, **very** curious to hear what the Greek architects reasoning was, their reasons for making things the way they did, to what point and in what way their Gods were involved, how they conceived and interpreted geometrical concepts in relation to their everyday reality. 😮

[@Timehasfallenasleep]

Four questions. Q.1 Did all Greek temples face east (the rising sun) ? - unless there was an overriding factor of course like the direction of the sea for Poseidon. I have come across temples facing other directions (like due south). Q.2 Why is the altar of Athena on the Parthenon not directly in front of the temple ? I thought the altar had to be in the line of sight of the statue inside the temple. Q.3 Did all Greek temples have an external altar ? - I have noticed some that did not - why ? Was the external altar used for messy animal/blood sacrifices and the internal (Naos) used for less messy forms of worship like prayers, food offerings, incense burning etc ? Q.4 Was the Tholos a temple/shrine dedicated to Gods or human heroes/ancestors ? I have come across both explanations for the same building - for example the tholos in the agora in Cyrene has been explained both as the tomb of the founder Battus and as a shrine to Demeter & Persephone.

[@user-ei2qn9kv1m]

Ever since I was little, I thought this temple was special. While looking at this temple It reminds me a little of Egyptian ruins. It's strange 😐

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

The sacred precint is usually called the temenos. Is altis a name for this specific one, ☝ or is it a synonym for temenos, does anybody one know? I just can never learn enough Greek! (I learn most from my Greek Dad and my independent studies, but not nearly as much as I want to). Thanks if you can answer, Manuel, or anyone? I’m going to binge-watch your wonderful channel, now that I’m done with work for the day and can take time to relax, what fun.

[@ManuelBravo]

They are indeed called Temenos. Altis is the name of the Temenos of Olympia.

[@victorcoca8567]

The statue of Zeus in Olimpia aparently was taken to Constantinople, bought by a rich colector and set up in that city, it is said that it was destroyed in one on those icnoclastic revolutions that took place in that city, in christian time when so many works of art were destroyedf...

[@thebeautifulones5436]

Did they have a beach volleyball court?

[@wolpumba4099]

*Abstract* This transcript explores the historical and architectural significance of Olympia, one of the most important ancient Greek sanctuaries and the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The discussion highlights how the site's design reflects ancient Greek ideals of civilization, unity, and athleticism. Key structures like the Temple of Zeus, the Philippeion, and the Temple of Hera are described, along with their architectural features and cultural importance. The influence of Greek mythology and the eventual decline of Olympia under Roman rule and natural disasters are also touched upon. *Keywords:* Ancient Greece, Olympia, archaeology, architecture, Olympic Games, temples, Greek mythology, Zeus, Hera i used gemini

[@user-yr9lb7fn9o]

The reason most goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.

[@MW-ur9on]

Damn I just edged

[@user-bp7jj8uu2j]

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

[@jamesleyda365]

I go to Olympia all the time.......................Olympia WA that is, cool city with all the K punks & whatnot🤘

[@PeterCiesla]

The site design philosophy seems similar to feng shui.

[@user-vy9jb6zw6q]

Just go ahead and press that button.

[@thomasauslander3757]

Who where the craftsman that build those structures... ?

[@golgumbazguide...4113]

Explore Golgumbaz Deccan india 🇮🇳

[@irwingalexisalfaroperez508]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@NpcBot-ju2qv]

hi

[@user-ku6wk5vm3q]

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

[@georgeskountouflis3136]

While ancient Greece is more beautiful than modern.

[@HeirOfBabylon]

Brb gonna load up Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to see how well it lines up.

[@gezimkolndreu2897]

This is Albanian Iliriens🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱 History 100%. The Greek country created 1821.

[@elenilepouri7253]

There is nothing by or for albanians before 1200- nothing not even one world Even their flag is stolen from Greek byzantine Palaiologos dynasty

[@MrVorpalsword]

I thought the only thing that I might know that you didn't was Doxiadis - I was wrong

[@sharynhughes1061]

How many died for there money. Yes!. It's a Wonderful place. Interesting!. 👌

[@fraum778]

Etruscia, actually taught the greeks and the romans and the vikings, they were Enochian

[@brianaschmidt910]

I Itch to recreate this in minecraft

[@Allright890]

Uh

[@SnakeBush]

Where did people sleep bro?????

[@goatboy3562]

Actually it's the capital of Washington state.

[@user-jc6uq8fj3c]

If you don't like toenails, you probably shouldn't look at your feet.