Ancient Olympia - 2015

Ancient Olympia. Erofili-Iris Kolia (Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia), Zachary Leventouri and Tonia Mourtzini (Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia) report the following:

During the Hellenistic period, a monumental complex intended for the preparation of the athletes was erected northwest of the Altis and east of the Kladeos River at Olympia. The complex is composed of two buildings, each with a wide central courtyard surrounded by porticos, the palaestra and the gymnasium. The gymnasium is only partially preserved since its west wing was washed away by the Kladeos River. The south portico, the propylon, and the south part of the east portico were excavated and studied by the German Archaeological Institute, whereas its north section has been detected in trial trenches but not yet investigated. New excavations were carried out in the gymnasium by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia (Elis) in 2013-2015. The excavations uncovered a 50 m. long section of the monument’s east portico and a large part of its central courtyard, as well as an area, approximately 328 m2, east of the building, where a Late Roman building was identified.