Archaeological Museum of Olympia

The Archaeological Museum (Greek Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ολυμπίας Archeologiko Musio Olympia ), Olympia is one of the most important museums in Greece.

Building

It was originally located in the classical Syngreion, which now houses the museum of the history of the ancient Olympic Games. The large number of significant new findings showed the re-planning of a museum is necessary. The building had no expansion capability, a demolition or relocation seemed indispensable.

1966 a new building was designed by the architect Patroklos Karantinos and completed by 1975. Since 1982 it is in its current form, in 2003 it was renovated. The architecture is creatively with complex materials, such as Cippolino marble and modern construction methods in the tradition of a materialistic modernity, on the other hand needs were taken into account as conservation conditions and visitor numbers. The collection is presented largely chronologically in ten halls clockwise.

Exhibits

Room 1 is devoted to the Geometric period and displays include early figures in bronze casting. In Hall 2 other bronze figures from the Geometric and the Archaic period are exhibited, also the acroterium of the Temple of Hera, can be recognized by the more ancient traces of color. The third room contains a reconstruction of part of the treasury of Megara and the only known preserved ancient Bronzerammbock. In the fourth hall of Miltiades and the Goblet of Phidias are shown, inter alia, the helmet.

The central hall contains the pediment sculptures of the temple of Zeus. The east pediment shows the chariot race between Pelops and Oenomaus, the west pediment of the Lapiths and Centaurs struggle between the. On the narrow sides of this hall, the metopes of the temple are exhibited, representing the twelve labors of Hercules.

Room 6 is dedicated to the Nike of Paionios. These about three meters high marble statue originally stood on a pedestal of about eight meters in front of the Temple of Zeus.

In hall 7, the Hermes of Praxiteles. This statue dates from about 330 BC and shows the naked god Hermes, who holds the little Dionysos boy on the arm.

In the last two halls are statues of the Roman period; noteworthy is the statue of a bull from the Nymphaeum of Herodes Atticus.

Gallery

Winged Gorgoneion, shield characters from the first half of the 6th century BC

Representation of a dolphin

The bull from the Nymphaeum of Herodes Atticus

Toy figures with movable legs

Votive offerings, Bronzefigurinen

Representation of a nursing Greifin

Henkel of a vessel showing a blood sport group