Olympia

Olympia, ancient sanctuary near the confluence of the Alpheus andCladeus rivers in southwest Greece. The great temple of Zeus, one of the 7 wonders of the world, contained his gold and ivory statue by Phidias. To the north was the temple of Hera (600 B.C.). In the excavation of Olympia in the late 19th century, archeologists found the important statues of the Nike (Victory) of Paeonius and the Hermes of Praxiteles.

See also: Greece, Ancient; Olympic Games.