Kladeos

Kladeos at Ancient Olympia ( Archea Olympia)

The Kladeos (Greek Κλάδεος, Latin. Cladeus ) is a river that flows at the Olympics in the Alpheus. He is now almost dried up especially in the summer. However, in ancient times he led, especially in the winter months a lot of water. Both the Kladeos and the Alpheius caused annual floods, the Kladeos that flows closer to the sanctuary of Olympia, the greater danger posed. To protect against flooding of the sanctuary and venues in the Olympic Kladeos has been redirected. The surface excavations from 1986, the displacement of the riverbed could be detected, as well as the construction of a seawall, which should keep the Kladeos in his new bed. However, it was broken or float around, so the sanctuary was buried in the Middle Ages and up to the start of the German excavations in 1875 under a up to 4 m high precoat of the river repeatedly.

Pausanias reported that the Eleier the river god Kladeos contrary brought next to the Alpheius most worship. The god is therefore shown in the east pediment of the temple of Zeus at Olympia. At the foot of Cronus northeast of the temple of Hera is located near the ancient shore of Kladeos a small altar, which is brought into connection with the River God and could have been built as atonement for the intervention in the natural course of the river.