DOI article:
Bevier, Louis: The Olympieion at Athens
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8560#0213
THE OLYMPIEION AT ATHENS.
I9I
begun to rebuild. This is much more likely than Dodwell's idea
(Tozir through Greece, p. 391) that the inscription formed part of
an epitaph. However that may be, its presence is another proof of
the correctness of the identification. Sixthly, the four sides of the
peribolos, according to the accurate measurements of Rhusopulos
{Arch. Eph., 1862, pp. 30 ff.), are together 668 m. in length, which
is equal to about 3f Olympic stadia. This agrees with the statement
of Pausanias (I. 18, 6) : 'O fiev 8ij iras ~epi(3oXo<i crraStW /AcLWra
recra-dpow €(ttlv. Considering that Pausanias is never very accurate
with figures, this is as close an agreement as could be expected.
Here he adds the word /xaAicrra, showing that he had no intention of
giving anything more than a rough approximation. Lastly, the arch
of Hadrian with its inscriptions shows that the site of our ruins was
the so-called New Athens, or Athens of Hadrian. This is likewise
indicated by an inscription found in the large water-pipe ; and we
know that this section received its name chiefly because this great
temple, the crown of all Hadrian's work in Athens, stood in it. All
these points make the identification of the Olympieion absolutely
certain.
Perhaps the most interesting matter in connection with this temple
is the history of its erection. In constructing this history we have as
evidence the direct statements of the ancients, and the ruins them-
selves, which by exact study can be made to supplement the direct
tradition. Notwithstanding this, the narrative will be far from com-
plete. Even the statements of the ancient authors, few as they are,
present several points of difficult interpretation.
The site of the ruins was one of the oldest hallowed spots in
Athens. On it stood a temple in honor of Zeus, long before the
famous temple was begun. The Attic tradition mentioned Deukalion
himself as its founder; and the fact that his grave was pointed out
in the immediate vicinity is cited by Pausanias as the evidence
usually adduced to prove that he really lived at Athens. Nor was
this the only link that connected this temple enclosure with the hero
Deukalion, for in the same paragraph (I. iS, 7) Pausanias says :
ivravda baov es 7rrj)cuv to edacpos OLeo~Tr]k€, koI Xeyovcn /xera Tip' i—(>p.p3pLav
rriv i~l AevxaXcwvos <Tvpfia<rav VTroppvrjvai TavTj] to v8wp, i(rf3u.XXoucrL
t£ es ai'to uva irav eVos aXcpiTa 7rvp<i>i> piiXtTL ytufcu're?. Of this cleft
no traces remain; and though Forchhammer (Topog., p. 95) iden-
I9I
begun to rebuild. This is much more likely than Dodwell's idea
(Tozir through Greece, p. 391) that the inscription formed part of
an epitaph. However that may be, its presence is another proof of
the correctness of the identification. Sixthly, the four sides of the
peribolos, according to the accurate measurements of Rhusopulos
{Arch. Eph., 1862, pp. 30 ff.), are together 668 m. in length, which
is equal to about 3f Olympic stadia. This agrees with the statement
of Pausanias (I. 18, 6) : 'O fiev 8ij iras ~epi(3oXo<i crraStW /AcLWra
recra-dpow €(ttlv. Considering that Pausanias is never very accurate
with figures, this is as close an agreement as could be expected.
Here he adds the word /xaAicrra, showing that he had no intention of
giving anything more than a rough approximation. Lastly, the arch
of Hadrian with its inscriptions shows that the site of our ruins was
the so-called New Athens, or Athens of Hadrian. This is likewise
indicated by an inscription found in the large water-pipe ; and we
know that this section received its name chiefly because this great
temple, the crown of all Hadrian's work in Athens, stood in it. All
these points make the identification of the Olympieion absolutely
certain.
Perhaps the most interesting matter in connection with this temple
is the history of its erection. In constructing this history we have as
evidence the direct statements of the ancients, and the ruins them-
selves, which by exact study can be made to supplement the direct
tradition. Notwithstanding this, the narrative will be far from com-
plete. Even the statements of the ancient authors, few as they are,
present several points of difficult interpretation.
The site of the ruins was one of the oldest hallowed spots in
Athens. On it stood a temple in honor of Zeus, long before the
famous temple was begun. The Attic tradition mentioned Deukalion
himself as its founder; and the fact that his grave was pointed out
in the immediate vicinity is cited by Pausanias as the evidence
usually adduced to prove that he really lived at Athens. Nor was
this the only link that connected this temple enclosure with the hero
Deukalion, for in the same paragraph (I. iS, 7) Pausanias says :
ivravda baov es 7rrj)cuv to edacpos OLeo~Tr]k€, koI Xeyovcn /xera Tip' i—(>p.p3pLav
rriv i~l AevxaXcwvos <Tvpfia<rav VTroppvrjvai TavTj] to v8wp, i(rf3u.XXoucrL
t£ es ai'to uva irav eVos aXcpiTa 7rvp<i>i> piiXtTL ytufcu're?. Of this cleft
no traces remain; and though Forchhammer (Topog., p. 95) iden-