Olympic Greece 2004

0: Acropolis Structures

1: Athens

Athens, immortal city of classical splendor with all its imposing temples and monuments attesting to the glory that was Greece, contrasts dramatically with the glass and steel of today's modern, vital city. Forever crowned by the magnificent Parthenon, the city continues to inspire reflections of its Golden Age. Scenic vistas from the heights of Mounts Parnes and Hymettos to the golden shores of Sounion continue to appeal to never-ending generations of visitors.

2: Agora

The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice.

The site was occupied without interruption in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and burial area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 B.C.). Early in the 6th century, in the time of Solon, the Agora became a public area.

After a series of repairs and remodellings, it reached its final rectangular form in the 2nd century B.C. Extensive building activity occured after the serious damage made by the Persians in 480/79 B.C., by the Romans in 89 B.C. and by the Herulae in A.D. 267 while, after the Slavic invasion in A.D. 580, It was gradually abandoned. From the Byzantine period until after 1834, when Athens became the capital of the independent Greek state, the Agora was again developed as a residential area.

3: Apostoli

The church of Ag. Apostoli is located within the excavation area of the Ancient Agora. It is one of the oldest (AD 1000-1025) churches of Athens, and it was built above the ruins of a Roman nymphaeon of the 2nd century. In the 1950s it was restored to its original form.

Ground view

4: Arch of Hadrian

The triumphal arch lies on an ancient street that led from the old city of Athens to the new, Roman section, built by Hadrian. It was constructed by the Athenians in A.D. 131, in honor of their benefactor emperor.

Two inscriptions are carved on the architrave, one on each side: the first, on the side towards the Acropolis reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus"; the second, on the other side, facing the new city reads "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus".

Ground view

5: Bema

The Bema or platorm for the speakers belonging to the third phase of the Pnyx. This probably dates to ca. 345-335 BC. Solon, Pericles, and, Demosthenes gave oration from this very spot!

Audience view

6: Keramikos

The "ceramics" -- tombs of the illustrious.

Keramikos, today, is the area housing the ancient cemetery of Athens and is so called because it lay near the ancient potters quarter where much of the famous pottery you will see in museums and read about in books was made. Our English words 'ceramics' and 'cemetery" come from this ancient Greek word: "Keramika". Keramikos is still called Keramikos even today.

Keramikos was divided into innner and outer sections which were delienated by the ancient city walls and city gates. Pre-dating the ancient Romans, who had a similar custom, tombs of important personages lined the roads entering the city. Lesser personages seem to have been buried within the walls and a slave could be intered next to his master appartently equal in the eyes of the gods. Today there are no modern tombs but Athens modern roads still roughly follow the ancient.

Incidentally, the shards of pottery that were inevitably broken here and there during the vast process of making all this pottery for export were called ostraka. When the Athenian city council wanted to exile somebody or to ostracize them it took a vote of 6000 citizens to do it. The votes were cast using these pottery shards called ostraka.

Ground view

7: Monument of Philopappus

The monument of Philopappos is dated to 114-116 A.D. It was erected by the Athenians in honor of the great benefactor of their city, the exiled prince of Commagene, Julius Antiochus Philopappos who settled in Athens, became a citizen and assumed civic and religious offices. According to Pausanias, the monument was built on the same site where Mousaios was formerly buried.

Ground view

8: Mount Lycabettus

Chapel of St. George at the summit.

Ground view

9: Odeion of Agrippa

Built by Agrippa in 15 B.C. and comprised an auditorium with a seating capacity of about 1000 people, and a two-storeyed portico. It was destroyed by fire in A.D. 267 and in about A.D. 400 the Gymnasium was erected in this area. Its north side was adorned by four colossal figures of Giants and Tritons set up on massive pedestals, salvaged from the debris of the Odeion. These statues are clearly visible in the Placemarked view.

10: Pnyx

The Pnyx was the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly (ekklesia). In the earliest days of Athenian democracy (after the reforms of Kleisthenes in 508 B.C.), the ekklesia met in the Agora. Sometime in the early 5th century, the meeting place was moved to a hill south and west of the Acropolis. This new meeting place came to be called "Pnyx" (from the Greek word meaning "tightly packed together". Three phases can be distinguished:

Pnyx I: Probably constructed in the early 5th century. The people apparently sat on the hillside facing a speaker's platform on the north. The seating capacity may have been anywhere from 6000 to 13,000 people. This phase is represented archaeologically only by a few cuttings in the bedrock and a boundary stone (not found in situ), so that it is impossible to determine the date and size with any precision.

Pnyx II: Probably late 5th century B.C. In this phase the orientation of the auditorum was apparently reversed (a recontruction that is based more upon ancient literary sources than from the actual archaeological record). A stepped terrace wall was created on the north to support an artificial terrace, and the people sat facing a speaker's platform on the south. Part of the stepped terrace wall is preserved, as well as a staircase with rock-cut steps leading up to it from the direction of the Agora. The size of the auditorium (as it is restored by the excavators) is not that much larger than Pnyx I.

Pnyx III: The Pnyx was rebuilt and expanded in the 3rd quarter of the 4th century B.C., probably around 345-335 B.C. A massive, curved, retaining wall was built (or at least begun) on the north. The southern side of the auditorium and speaker's platform (bema) were quarried out of the natural bedrock. (Traces of the quarrying process can still be seen at the eastern side of the great rock-cut scarp). On a terrace above (south of) the speaker's platform, the foundations were begun for 2 long stoas (but these seem never to have been finished). It is unknown for how many years Pnyx III was used as the meeting place of the ekklesia, and certainly by the 1st century B.C. the the assembly held their meetings in the Theater of Dionysos on the South Slope of the Acropolis.

Finally, in the Roman period, part of the Pnyx was used as a sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos. Evidence for the sanctuary consist of c. 50 niches for votive plaques cut into the bedrock scarp east of the speaker's platform. Many of the votive plaques are carved with representations of human body parts (eyes, breasts, etc.), suggesting that this Zeus Hypsistos was a healing divinity.

Ground view

11: Prison of Socrates

Socrates, Greek philospher and devine teacher, was born 469 BC. In 399 BC he was convicted of denying the gods recognised by the state and corrupting the young. Serving thirty days imprisonment, he drank the "Cup of hemlock" after having refused an escape from prison, which was arranged by his friend Crito.

12: Stoa of Attalus

According to a dedicatory inscription which occupied a prominent place on the architrave,the name of donor was:

KING ATTALOS,SON OF KING ATTALOS AND OF QUEEN APOLLONIS

The building is an excellent example of the fully developed type of stoa.On each of its two storeys a two-aisled colonnade was backed by a row of 21 rooms which mainly served as shops. A broad terrace ran the whole length of the building supported on a retaining wall which provided a backdrop for a close set row of sculptured monuments.

Ground view

13: Temple of Hephaestus

Thisseion despite its name, it was not a temple dedicated to Theseus but to the god Hephaistos and the goddess Athena. Situated at the western edge of the Agora (Market), it is today the best preserved temple of ancient times. Built in 449 B.C., it housed the statues of Hephaistos and Athena sculpted by Alkamenes.

Ground view

14: Temple of Olympian Zeus

The largest ancient temple in Greece is the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

In ca. 515 B.C., Peisistratos the Younger, began the construction of a monumental temple which was not finished because of the fall of the tyranny in Athens. Much later, in 174 B.C., Antiochos IV Epiphanes, the king of Syria, attempted to continue the erection of the temple, which was finally completed by the Roman emperor Hadrian, in A.D. 124/125. Inside the temple stood a colossal chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Zeus.

The temple was dedicated to the supreme god Zeus and 14 of its original 104 very tall Corinthian style columns still stand today.

Ground view

15: Tower of the Winds

The Horologion of Andronicos (a.k.a. "Tower of the Winds") is an octagonal tower (3.20 m. long on each side) stands on a base of three steps and is built of white Pentelic marble. It has a conical roof, a cylindrical annex on the south side, and two Corinthian porches, one on the NE and one on the NW side. At the top of each of the eight sides there is a relief representation of a wind, symbolized by a male figure with the appropriate attributes and its name inscribed on the stone. There were sundials on the external walls and an elaborate waterclock in the interior. The tower was built in the first half of the 1st century B.C. by the astronomer Andronicos, from Kyrrhos in Macedonia.

In the early Christian period, the Tower of the Winds was converted into a church or a baptesterion of an adjacent church, while the area outside the NE entrance was occupied by a Christian cemetery. In the 15th century A.D., Cyriacus of Ancona mentions the monument as the temple of Aeolos while an anonymous traveller refers to it as a church. In the 18th century it was used as the tekke of the Dervishes. (The famous whirling dervishes garnered notice dancing here.)

The monument had been half-buried by the earth accumulated over the centuries. It was excavated between 1837 and 1845 by the Greek Archaeological Society. Restoration work was carried out in 1916-19 by An. Orlandos and again in 1976 by the 1st Ephorate of Antiquities.

Ground view

16: Caryatides

View of the six Caryatids. A caryatid is a sculpted draped female figure that serves as a column that supports an entablature (beam for the roof). The, less frequently found, male counterpart is an "atlante." Note the draped garment and the flexed inside leg lending lightness and grace to the figures. Also note, that the three caryatids on the left have their left legs engaged (flexed) while those on the right have their right legs engaged — thus adding to the symmetry of the structure.

Ground view

17: Erechtheion

The Erechtheion was built in ca. 420 B.C. in the Ionic order. It has a prostasis on the east side, a monumental propylon on the north, and the famous porch of the Caryatids on the south. The main temple was divided into two sections, dedicated to the worship of the two principal gods of Attica, Athena and Poseidon-Erechtheus.

Ground view

18: Odeum of Herodes Atticus

The Herodeion as it is called by modern Greeks, was built in AD161 by Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes, an important figure of his time. He was a teacher and philosopher who had inherited a great fortune from his father. When his wife Rigilla died, he built this roofed Odeion for musical performances to honour her memory. The ancient Greeks used to give music and recital concerts there. Today the Athens Festival takes place at the Odeion every summer.

Overview

Athens festival

19: Odeum of Pericles

A public building in Athens built by Pericles in 445 B. C. and initially dedicated to musical performances (the name "Odeum" comes from the Greek word "Ode" meaning "song"). It hosted musical contests during the yearly festival of the Panathena. It was later used also for various other purposes, serving as a tribunal, a meeting room for the assembly and more.

20: Parthenon

Parthenon is the most important and characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization and still remains its international symbol. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. It was built between 447 and 438 B.C. and its sculptural decoration was completed in 432 B.C. The construction of the monument was initiated by Perikles, the supervisor of the whole work was Pheidias, the famous Athenian sculptor, while Iktinos and Kallikrates were the architects of the building. The temple is built in the Doric order and almost exclusively of Pentelic marble.

Ground view

21: Propylaea

The Propylaea, located at the west end of the hill, is a roofed entrance structure into the sacred precincts of the Acropolis. It was designed by the renown architect Mnesicles, and constructed between the years 437 BC and 432 BC. However, the construction was ended during the Peloponessian wars, and the building never reached completion for unknown reasons. The Propylaea which can still be seen today were built during the age of Pericles, and were supposed to replace an earlier one built under the administration of Pissistratus in 530 BC.

Ground view

22: Stoa of Eumenes

The Stoa of Eumenes was built by the King of Pergamon, Eumenes II, in the 2nd century B.C. Its main purpose was to protect the spectators in case of bad weather or sun. On passing through the Stoa you can see the ruins of the Asklepieion which was built in 429 B.C. after the plague that decimated the population of Athens.

Ground view

23: Temple of Nike

The Nike (Victory) Temple stands on the remains of a Mycenaean fortification of Cyclopean masonry, originally several meters higher than the present bastion. By the 6th century B.C. a cult worshipping Athena as goddess of victory, had been established in the same location, and by ca. 490 B.C. a small poros temple and several altars had been built. The temple described above in the Plan description was begun in 427 B.C. and completed in 425/424 B.C. Ca. 410 B.C. the famous carved parapet was constructed around the temple, and the entire area is sometimes referred to as the Nike Parapet. Also on the bastion were shrines of the Graces and Artemis Epipyrgidia (on the Tower).

Bastion and Temple

24: Theater of Dionysus

View of the theater of Dionysus (god of wine and protector of fertility and vegetation), as it survives today. The coloured marble paving of the orchestra and the parapets which separate it from the audience date from the Roman period. It was in this Theater of Dionysus that the works of the great ancient dramatists Aeshylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were performed for the first time.

Ground view

It was here that Aristophanes's Lysistrata was first perfomed with its famously risque dialogue, songs, and costumes.

25: Corinthus

The site of Ancient Corinth was first inhabited in the Neolithic period (5000-3000 B.C.). The peak period of the town, though, started in the 8th century B.C. and lasted until its destruction by the Roman general Mummius in 146 B.C. Representative of its wealth is the Doric temple of Apollo which was built in 550 B.C.

The city was reinhabited in 44 B.C. and gradually developed again. In 51/52 A.D., Apostle Paul visited Corinth. The centre of the Roman city was organized to the south of the temple of Apollo and included shops, small shrines, fountains, baths and other public buildings.

The invasion of the Herulians in A.D. 267 , initiated the decline of the city though it remained inhabited for many centuries through successive invasions and destructions, until it was liberated from the Turks in 1822.

26: Ephesus

Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean, and among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times.

27: Knossos

Knossos is the site of the most important and best known palace of Minoan civilization. According to tradition, it was the seat of the legendary king Minos. The Palace is also connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur, and the story of Daidalos and Icaros. The site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000-3000 B.C.) until Roman times. The Linear B tablets (Mycenaean script) of the 14th century B.C. mention the city as ko-no-so.

Intensive habitation occured mostly in the Minoan period, when the so-called first (19th-17th centuries B.C.) and second palaces (16th-14th centuries B.C.) were built along with luxurious houses, a hospice and various other structures. After its partial destruction in 1450 B.C., Knossos was settled by Mycenaeans from the Greek Mainland. The city flourished again during the Hellenistic period (sanctuaries of Glaukos, Demeter, other sanctuaries, chamber tombs, north cemetery, defensive towers) and in 67 B.C. it was captured by the Roman Quintus Caecilius Metelus Creticus. The "Villa of Dionysos", a private house with splendid mosaics was built in the same period.

28: Laodicea

The city of Laodicea is located in the Lycus River Valley together with Hierapolis and Colossae. This valley is a natural route of travel from east to west.

The city was founded by the Seleucid king Antiochus II and named for his wife Laodice about 260 B.C.

29: Nicaea

Ancient Nicaea, now called Iznik, is a farming town surrounded by massive medieval walls set on the shore of a broad lake.

30: Odessus

Established in 6th century B.C. the town of Varna (Odessos) quickly proved to be a major strategic and commercial centre.

31: Philippi

The most important archaeological site of eastern Macedonia, with characteristic monuments of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods.

The history of the site of Philippi begins in 360/359 B.C. when the colonists from Thasos founded the first city, called Krenides. In 356 B.C. the city is endangered by the Thacians and it turns to king Philip II for support. Philip had already forseen the economic and strategic importance of the city, so he conquered it, he fortified it and he renamed it after himself (Philippi). After the battle of Philippi, in 42 B.C., the city became a Roman colony and its importance was stressed by the fact that it was located on the Via Egnatia.

A landmark in the history of Philippi was the year A.D 49 or 50, when Apostole Paul visited the city and established there the first Christian Church of Europe. This made Philippi a metropolis of Christianity. During the Byzantine period (A.D. 963-969) the walls of the city were reconstructed and at the same time the towers and the wall of the acropolis were built.

32: Rhodes

The island of Rhodes, the island of roses, was inhabited as early as the late Neolithic period (4000 B.C.). It is situated at the crossroads of two major sea routes of the Mediterranean between the Aegean Sea and the coast of the Middle East, as well as Cyprus and Egypt. The meeting point of three continents, it has known many civilizations.

Throughout its long history the different people who settled on Rhodes left their mark in all aspects of the island's culture: art, language, architecture. Its strategic position brought to the island great wealth and made the city of Rhodes one of the leading cities of the ancient Greek world.

Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese. Its capital city, located at its northern tip, is the capital of the Prefecture with the Medieval Town in its centre. In 1988 the Medieval Town was designated as a World Heritage City. The Medieval Town of Rhodes is the result of different architectures belonging to various historic eras, predominantly those of the Knights of St. John.

33: Sardis

Sardis lies in the territory of Lydia, at the foot of the Tmolus Mountains and overlooking the Hermus River plain, where evidence has been found of human activity as early as the Palaeolithic period (ca. 50,000 B.C.). By the late second millennium B.C., a modest community existed at the foot of the acropolis. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the "sons of Herakles" founded a dynasty that remained in power for "505 years, son succeeding father from generation to generation till the time of Candaules" (from ca. 1185 to ca. 680 B.C.). By the early 7th century B.C., Sardis was the capital of a growing empire, with a distinct archaeological record.

During the Mermnad dynasty (ca. 680-547 B.C.), the empire reached its greatest geographical extent, stretching from the Aegean Sea to central Anatolia. Herodotus credits the Lydian kings with the invention of coinage and the construction of the great royal burial mounds at Bin Tepe, some 6 miles to the northwest of the acropolis. Kings Gyges and Croesus were particularly renowned for lavish gifts dedicated in Greek sanctuaries. In 547 B.C., Sardis was sacked by Cyrus the Great and remained under Persian control until 334 B.C., when it was captured by Alexander the Great. The city continued to flourish during Hellenistic and Roman times, when ambitious construction projects were initiated, including the temple of Artemis and bath-gymnasium complex. A section of the bath-gymnasium complex was later remodeled to accommodate a synagogue. This synagogue, now partially restored by the Harvard-Cornell Expedition, is the largest early synagogue yet excavated in the Mediterranean world.

34: Sparta

Sparta

35: Thera

The town of Thera came to an abrupt end in the last quarter of the 17th century B.C. when the inhabitants were obliged to abandon it as a result of severe earthquakes.

36: Thessalonica

Thessalonika was founded in 315 BC by Kassander, a Macedonian general (diadochos) who named the city after his wife Thessalonika, sister of Alexander the Great.

37: Troy

Troy, was founded in the year 3000 B.C. and was demolished and reconstructed nine times until the year 500 A.D. -- it was inhabited continuously for 3500 years.

38: Delphi

During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi.

Ground view

39: Temple of Poseidon

The sanctuary at Sounion is one of the most important sanctuaries in Attica. Sporadic finds point to the conclusion that the site was inhabited in the prehistoric period but there is no evidence of religious practice in such an early date. "Sounion Hiron" (sanctuary of Sounion) is first mentioned in the Odyssey, as the place where Menelaos stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides. The finds of the 7th century B.C. are numerous and proove the existence of organized cult on two points of the promontory: at the southern edge where the temenos of Poseidon was situated, and about 500 m. to the NE of it, where the sanctuary of Athena was established.

Ground view

40: Penteli

These stone quarries are the source of Penteli Marble (Dionissos-Penteli White Marble), the beautiful white marble from which the Parthenon and thus the Elgin Marbles were made.

41: Academy of Athens

The Academy of Athens forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy - University - Library. It consists of aesthetically distinct parts that form a harmonic ensemble of built mass. A corridor connects the two lateral wings to the main body of the building, which -in its proportions of line and mass- is set-off by its Ionian-style entrance and its big pediment. The entrance has elements originating from the eastern side of Erechtheion, on Acropolis. The predominant material on the facets is marble. Overall, the building is a characteristic example of mature Neoclassicism.

It was built in two phases, in 1859-1863 and 1868-1885, based on studies of the Danish architect Theophile Hansen and it is believed to be his most exquisite work in Greece. Hansen himself was also supervising the construction up to 1861 when E. Ziller took over. The embossed compositions on the central pediment and the statues outside are works of the sculptor L. Drosis. The embossed compositions on the eight small pediments are worked by Fr. Melnizki (1875) and the wall-paintings in the interior were made by K. Grupenckel.

The main donator to finance the construction was the family of the Baron Simon Sinas, Ambassador of Greece in Vienna, Berlin and Munich. In 1887, the architect Hernest Ziller, acting as proxy of Sinas' heirs, delivered the building complete to the then Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis.

Ground view

42: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

The University of Athens forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy - University - Library. It consists of a group of built masses that shape up a double "T", with two symmetrical courtyards. The facade is strictly symmetrical to the arcade of rectangular pillars, set-off by an Ionian-style entrance. The bases of the columns and the capitals of the entrance are perfect replicas of the equivalent found in the Propylaea of Acropolis. The building follows the basic aesthetic rules of early Neoclassicism, while at the same time is adapted to the Greek Mediterranean climate. The outside statues complete the entrance's composition, that is evidently distinguished to "base," body" and "crowning" parts.

It was built between 1839 and 1864, based on a study drawn by the Danish architect Cristian Hansen, who was also supervising the works in the beginning, to be followed afterwards by A. Theophilas and L. Kaftatzoglou. The wall-paintings on the facade were studied by the Bavarian painter Ral and executed by the Polish painter Lebietski. The construction expenses were carried out by King Otho, the sovereign of Serbia and Greeks from abroad.

Ground view

43: Vallianios National Library

The National Library forms part of the so-called "Neoclassical Trilogy" of the City of Athens: Academy - University - Library. It consists of three solid parts, out of which the one in the middle -which is also the biggest- houses the Reading-Room. To enter this part, one has to pass through a Doric-style row of columns (designed after the Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Thission, which served as its model), after climbing on a monumental curved double staircase of a Renascence style. The Reading-Room, surrounded by Ionian-style columns, is covered by a glass ceiling. The cast-iron constructions of the bookstands were referred to as exceptional back in their time. In general, the building is considered to be a characteristic sample of mature Neoclassicism.

It was built between 1887 and 1902, based on a study of the Danish architect, Theophile Hansen -brother of Cristian Hansen. Hernest Ziller was the supervising architect who also studied the entrance stairways and the main bookstands. As early as in 1858, King Otho had ordered Hansen to make a study for the construction of a Library next to the University, that had already started being built.

The first public Library in Greece was founded in the island of Aegina in 1829 by the then Governor I. Kapodistrias and in 1834 was moved to Athens where, before ending up to the University building, it had been temporarily housed in various old buildings. In 1884 the then Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis took the final initiative in constructing the Library, with donations offered by Panagis Vallianos, a Greek national living in Russia and by the Public Endowment Fund, which helped to finish the project. Today, it houses the the most complete Public Library of Greece.

Ground view

44: Areos Park

This large park offers a playground and the occasional peacock. Open sunrise to dusk. On the corner of Patission and Alexandras Avenue.

45: Corinth Canal

The Corinth Canal links the Gulf of Corinth in the northwest with the Saronic Gulf in the southeast. The canal is 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long and has a water depth of 26 feet (8 m). Its width varies from a minimum of 69 feet (21 m) at the bottom to 82 feet (25 m) maximum at the water's surface.

Before it was built, ships sailing between the Aegean and Adriatic had to circumnavigate the Peloponnese adding about 185 nautical miles to their journey. The first to decide to dig the Corinth Canal was Periander, the tyrant of Corinth (602 BCE). Such a giant project was above the technical capabilities of ancient times so Periander carried out another great project, the diolkós, a stone road, on which the ships were transferred on wheeled platforms from one sea to the other. Dimitrios Poliorkitis, king of Macedon (c. 300 BCE), was the second who tried, but his engineers insisted that if the seas where connected, the more northerly Adriatic, mistakenly thought to be higher, would flood the more southern Aegean. At the time, it was also thought that Poseidon, god of the sea, opposed joining the Aegean and the Adriatic. The same fear also stopped Julius Caesar and emperors Hadrian and Caligula. The most serious try was that of Emperor Nero (67 CE). He had 6,000 slaves for the job. He started the work himself, digging with a golden hoe, while music was played. However, he was killed before the work could be completed.

In the modern era, the first who thought seriously to carry out the project was Capodistrias (c. 1830), first governor of Greece after the liberation from the Ottoman Turks. But the budget, estimated at 40 million French francs, was too much for the Greek state. Finally, in 1869, the Parliament authorized the Government to grant a private company (Austrian General Etiene Tyrr) the privilege to construct the Canal of Corinth. Work began on Mar 29, 1882, but Tyrr's capital of 30 million francs proved to be insufficient. The work was restarted in 1890, by a new Greek company (Andreas Syggros), with a capital of 5 million francs. The job was finally completed and regular use of the Canal started on Oct 28, 1893.

Aerial view

46: Dora Stratou Theatre

47: Likavitos Theatre

An absolute must for any visitor to Athens, but especially for those on a rush visit. In one hour, you can "see" the whole of Athens because you can spot the central landmarks of the city (including the Acropolis and the Olympic Stadium) as well as the farthest coast and surrounding mountains.

Extrordinary view

48: National Archaeological Museum

49: Observatory

The neoclassic building of the Observatory is situated on the hill of "Nymphs" at Thission, facing the Acropolis and belongs to the Astronomical Institute, the oldest research center of Greece. It was founded in 1842, after a donation from the national benefactor George Sinas. The astronomical observations started on September 1847.

50: Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Stadium is situated across the National Garden, on Vas. Konstantinou Ave. and hosted the 1st Modern Olympic Games in 1896. The stadium can seat up to 90,000 spectators and is sometimes used for major sporting events and concerts. During the 2004 Olympic Games, the events of Archery and Marathon finish will be hosted there. It is also called Panathinaiko Stadium or Kallimarmaron by the locals, and is located at the same site where the ancient Athenians had a stadium built in 330 B.C.

51: Omonia Square

Beyond the Athens Market on Athinas street is the Platia of the Dimarcheo, or City Hall Square, the government center for Athens. It is one of the most beautiful squares in Greece, surrounded by some beautiful neo-classic buildings from the turn of the century.

Ground view

52: Parliament

In May of 1832 in London, the "Three Protecting Powers" - Great Britain, France and Russia - signed their agreement on the election of underage Prince of Bavaria Otto as King of Greece. That same year, in Constantinople, a treaty was signed, mapping out the borders of the Greek State. On June 29th, 1833, a royal decree was issued, making Athens the capital of the newly established state. The move from Nauplio to Athens created a pressing need for the housing of the services, of the ministries and for the new home of King Otto.

The choice of the location and the construction of the palace were assigned to the architect Gaertner (1792-1847), who was the director of the Fine Arts Academy of Munich and the official architect of the Nation. It is with this capacity that in 1835he accompanied the King of Bavaria Ludovic to Greece.

The area around the Boubounistra hill, at the highest point of the Eastern city limits, with a relatively even ground, was the location that Gaertner chose. The main criterion in the selection of the area was to underline the presence of the building in the city, thereby accentuating the weight of the Bavarian power in Greece. A secondary criterion was the good climate of that particular location.

It is noteworthy that the previous proposals for the erection site of the palace which were rejected, were those of the architects Kleanthis and Shaubert, who suggested the area of Otto Square (which is known today as Omonia Square) and the Saint Athanassios hill in Thissio suggested by Klenze. Schinkel's suggestion to erect the palace in the Acropolis area was never taken into serious consideration.

Gaertner respected the archeological heritage of Athens when he prepared the plans. He designed a simple, massive, square neoclassical building of 6994m², with four exterior wings, each with three floors, a middle wing with two floors and two courtyards - the Meridian courtyard and the North courtyard - without any superfluous decorative elements. The foundation stone was placed on January 25th/February 6th, 1836. The total cost of the project amounted to 5.450.000 gold drachmas. Hellenic Parliament Website

Ground view

53: Presidential Palace

Designed by German architect Ernst Ziller, the new Royal Palace, as it was once called, was commissioned by King George I in 1890 to celebrate the marriage of his son, Crown Prince Constantine, to Princess Sophia. Separated from the old Royal Palace (now the Parliament) by the National Gardens, Ziller's structure became, after its completion in 1897, the official residence of the Greek royal family. Since 1975, following the abolition of the monarchy, the building has housed the offices of the President of the Republic. Typical of Ziller's neo-classical style, the three-storied Presidential Palace elegantly combines elements of Greek, Roman, and Renaissance architecture.

54: Sintagma Square

Sintagma Square is recognized as the center of Athens. It is a large plaza filled with trees and a fountain in the center along with the entrance to the Syntagma metro Station. In Syntagma someone will find every type of tourist shops and shopping malls, airline offices, banks, fast food restaurants and other restaurants as well as first class hotels.

Sintagma is also known as Constitution Square because it faces the Parliament building. In front of the Parliament is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where visiting dignitaries lay wreaths, and is guarded day and night by two soldiers (evzones) dressed in traditional skirted uniforms. On Sundays at 10.30 A.M. the soldiers, accompanied by a military band, march from the Parliament building in full regalia.

Across Syntagma is the Grande Bretagne hotel, established in 1862, which has become a landmark in Athens and its seven floors have hosted dignitaries from around the world.

Aerial view

55: Strefi

56: Zappeion Hall

The Zappeion Hall is one of the outstanding memorial edifices in Athens, built with funds provided by national benefactor Evangelos Zappas, the first Greek who dreamed that the Olympic Games might return to Greece. When the Olympics were revived in 1896, the Zappeion was used as the venue for the fencing event; and in the interim Olympics of 1906, it was used as the first Olympic village. The building also has a historical connection with Greece's European course: it was there that the signature was put on Greece's entry into the Common Market, and it was also the headquarters of the Greek Presidency of the European Union in 1983, 1994 and 2003.

The Zappeion, which is now used as a conference and exhibition facility, is in central Athens, in an extension of the National Park near the Parliament building, Syntagma (Constitution) Square, the Presidential Mansion, and the Maximos Mansion, which houses the offices of the Prime Minister. It is also close to important archaeological sites, such as the unified archaeological zone around the Acropolis and the Columns of Olympian Zeus - an area made easily accessible from the city's central streets and the mass transit system.

Facade view

Aerial view

Zappas died in 1865, leaving his immense fortune for the benefit of the modern Olympics with the purpose to be held every four years "in the manners of our ancestors". According to his will, his body was buried in Romania, and his skull at the new Olympic building located in Zappeion, Athens. Visitors can still see the inscription at Zappeion: "Here lies the head".

57: Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre (AGK)

The Olympic Sailing Centre, where the Sailing events will take place, is located in the coastal area of southern Attica.

Olympic Website

The Sport Events of Sailing in August 2002 and in August 2003 were successfully conducted at this venue.

Sport: Sailing
Competition Schedule: 14-26, 28 August
Athletes participating: 400
Spectator capacity: 1,600 (medal ceremonies)
Total land surface: 336,289 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 34.7km
Completion Date: 31 January 2004
Official Opening: 2 August 2004
Press seats: 150 written press, 25 photographers
Spectator Services: Olympic Products selling points, clinic, lost and found area, food concessions, WCs

Aerial view

Ground view

58: Ancient Olympia Stadium

The Shot Put Event will be held in the Stadium of Ancient Olympia on 18 August 2004.

Olympic Website

For the well preservation of the site, there will be no visual intervention to the competition ground, no temporary structures and grandstands, even prefabricated, no electronic boards or artificial lighting. At the Stadium only movable throwing circles will be placed.

For the accommodation of athletes, media representatives and spectators, the facilities of the International Olympic Academy in Olympia will be used, where there is also the ability for catering and a modern stadium, which will be used as training and warm-up facility. The new conference centre of the International Olympic Academy will be used for press conference and as work area for media representatives.

Note: Medals will be awarded to both men and women on 20 August, in the Olympic Stadium in Athens.

Ground view

59: Ano Liossia Olympic Hall (LIH)

Approximately 9,000 Wrestling and Judo fans will have the opportunity to attend their favourite sport in the Olympic Hall, situated in Ano Liossia, in the northwest region of Athens.

Olympic Website

The construction area covers a surface of 35,000 sq.m., surrounded by supplementary support areas, such as warm up areas, athletes' rest rooms, training areas, change rooms, medical-hygiene areas, administration, National Federation offices, security services areas, pressroom, spectators services areas, recreation areas etc.

Sport: Judo Competition Schedule: 14-20 August Athletes participating: 386 Spectator capacity: 9,000 Total land surface: 65,000 sq m Distance from Olympic Village: 17km Official Opening: 11 August 2004 Press seats: 130 written press, 28 photographers Spectator Services: Merchandise concessions, catering concessions, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, info booth, ticket box office, ticket resolution office

Aerial view

Ground view

60: Athens City Centre Cycling Road Race Course (ARR)

The Cycling Road Race will take place along the Athens centre with start and finish line at Kotzia Square.

Olympic Website

ATHENS 2004, in cooperation with the International Cycling Union, has designed the course, which passes through the most important sites of the Greek capital. The Sport Event of Cycling was successfully conducted at this venue in August 2003.

Sport: Cycling Road Race
Competition Schedule:
14 August (Men),
15 August (Women)
Athletes participating: 212
Total land surface: 21,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 20.4 km
Completion Date: 15 June 2004 (finalization of route)
Official Opening: 11 August 2004
Press seats: 148 written press, 30 photographers

Cyclists passing Parliament Building

61: FCO - Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre (BVF)

The Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre, in Faliro consists of a new court with 9,600 seating capacity. The fascinating sport of Beach Volleyball will become a dominant spectacle in the warm and sandy environment of South Attica, at the Faliro Coastal Zone.

Olympic website

The Sport Event of Beach Volleyball was successfully conducted at this venue in August 2003.

Sport: Beach Volleyball
Competition Schedule: 14-25 August
Athletes participating: 96
Spectator capacity: 9,600
Total land surface: 123,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 25km
Completion Date: 31 January 2004
Official Opening: 2 August 2004
Press seats: 110 written press, 30 photographers
Spectator Services: Olympic Products selling points, public phones, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, ticket office, ticket resolution office, information desk, stroller storage area, lost and found area, clinic, water coolers, food concessions, WCs, environment information desk

Outside view

Inside view

62: FCO - Sports Pavillion (FSP)

The Handball events will take place at two Olympic Venues: the Sports Pavilion of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex and the Indoor Arena of the Helliniko Olympic Complex.

Olympic Website

The Sports Pavilion of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex, a venue with a spectator capacity of 8,100, will host the Handball preliminary games, as well as the Taekwondo events.

Sports: Handball (preliminaries)
Competition Schedule: 14-24 August
Athletes participating: 330
Spectator capacity: 8,100
Total land surface: 81,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 25km
Completion Date: 20 December 2003
Official Opening: 12 August 2004
Press seats: 162 written press, 30 photographers
Spectator Services: 3 food concessions, 2 Olympic Products selling points, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs.

Ground view

63: Galatsi Olympic Hall (GAL)

The Olympic Hall in Galatsi, a suburb northwest of the city of Athens, will host the Table Tennis and the Rhythmic Gymnastics events.

Olympic Website

It includes a main building with 6,500 seats for the spectators, along with other surrounding areas, access roads, parking areas etc.

Sport: Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition Schedule: 26-29 August Athletes participating: 84 Spectator capacity: 6,500 Total land surface: 95,000 sq m (approx.) Distance from Olympic Village: 16km Completion Date: May 2004 Official Opening: 30 July 2004 Press seats: 184 Spectator Services: Post ?ffice, information office, merchandising concessions, food concessions, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs.

Aerial view

Indoor view

64: Goudi Olympic Complex (GCO)

The Goudi Olympic Complex is an important section in the whole Olympic Works programme, as it will host Modern Pentathlon and Badminton.

The Goudi Complex consists of two venues: the Goudi Olympic Hall and the Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre. The disciplines of Shooting and Fencing of Modern Pentathlon as well as Badminton will be held at the Goudi Olympic Hall.

In addition, the remaining three Modern Pentathlon disciplines: Swimming, Riding and Running will be held at the Olympic Modern Pentathlon Centre. The complex includes a 2,500 seated area for Swimming, two 5,000 seated areas for Riding and Running and one 3,000 seated area for Fencing and Shooting. Another 4,100 seated area will host the Badminton sport, which will be a temporary construction undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, Public Welfare and Public Works.

Sport: Badminton
Competition Schedule: 14-21 August
Athletes participating: 172
Spectator capacity: 4,100
Total land surface: 231,700 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 28.5 km
Completion Date: 31 March 2004
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 120 written press, 20 photographers
Spectator Services: Ticket resolution office, ticket office, medical services, first aid, information office, food concession, Olympic Products selling points, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, WCs.

Aerial view

Inside view

Pool view

65: HCO - Helliniko Indoor Arena (HEL)

The Handball events will take place at two Olympic Venues: the Sports Pavilion of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex and the Indoor Arena of the Helliniko Olympic Complex.

Olympic Website

The Handball finals will take place at the Indoor Arena of the Helliniko Olympic Complex, which is of 14.100-seated capacity. The same venue will also host the preliminaries of Basketball.

Sport: Handball (finals)
Competition Schedule: 26-29 August
Athletes participating: 270
Spectator capacity: 13,000
Total land surface: 58,600 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 36.2km
Completion Date: 31 May 2004
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 400 written press, 70 photographers
Spectator Services: 2 food courts, merchandising stores, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs

Exterior view

66: HCO - Helliniko Fencing Hall (HEF)

The preliminaries and final of Fencing will be held at the Fencing Hall of the Helliniko Olympic Complex (a southern suburb of Athens). The Fencing Hall has two rooms: one of 3,800 seats for the preliminaries and a 5,000 seated room for the finals of Fencing.

Olympic website

Sport: Fencing
Competition Schedule: 14-22 August
Athletes participating: 200
Spectator capacity: 3,800 (preliminaries), 5,000 (finals)
Total land surface: 21,300 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 36.2km
Press seats: 400 written press, 70 photographers
Spectator Services: 2 food courts, merchandising stores, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs.

Ground view

67: HCO - Olympic Baseball Centre (BAS)

The Olympic Baseball Centre, part of the Helliniko Olympic Complex, in the south of Athens, is a new construction built at the site of the former Athens airport that will host the sport of Baseball, a sport not very popular in Greece, but well known to the rest of the sports world.

Olympic Website

It consists of two main courts, one of 8,700 and another of 4,000 seats that will accommodate the fans of baseball from all nations.

Sport: Baseball
Competition Schedule: 15-18, 20-22, 24-25 August
Athletes participating: 192
Spectator capacity: 8,700 (Field 1), 4,000 (Field 2)
Total land surface: 120,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 32.6km
Completion Date: 27 February 2004
Official Opening: 10 August 2004
Press seats: 154
Spectator Services: Merchandising store, food concession, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, games information booth, ticket resolution office, spectator medical services

Aerial photo

Ground photo

68: HCO - Olympic Canoe / Kayak Slalom Centre (CAK)

The Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre is located within the Hellinikon Olympic Complex, in the south of Athens and will accommodate 8,000 Canoe/Kayak Slalom fans.

Olympic Website

The venue is designed to operate as a sports centre consisting of a competition course, a secondary training course, and a warm-up lake of natural form that occupies a total area of 27,000 square meters.

It is located within the former Helliniko Airport in Athens, northeast of the Helliniko Olympic Complex and occupies an area of 288,000 square meters.

At the Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre was held the Athens Slalom Racing World Cup 2004 between 22-25 April 2004.

Sport: Canoe/Kayak Slalom Racing
Competition Schedule: 17-20 August
Athletes participating: 82
Spectator capacity: 8,000
Total land surface: 288,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 32.3km
Completion Date: 31 March 2004
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 60 written press, 25 photographers
Spectator Services: Olympic Products selling points, public phones, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, ticket office, information desk, stroller storage area, lost and found area, clinic, water coolers, food concessions, WCs.

Aerial view

Ground view

69: HCO - Olympic Hockey Centre (HOC)

The Olympic Hockey Centre is a new construction, in the south of Athens, with a large pitch of 8,300 seats and a smaller one of 2,000 seats. It also includes a warm-up pitch for the training of all athletes that will take part in the competition of Hockey.

Olympic website

Sport: Hockey
Competition Schedule: 14-27 August
Athletes participating: 352
Spectator capacity: 7,300 (Pitch 1), 2,100 (Pitch 2)
Total land surface: 115,173 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 33km
Completion Date: 29 February 2004
Official Opening: 11 August 2004
Press seats: 80 written press, 22 photographers
Spectator Services: 2 merchandising stores, 11 food concession stores, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, Games information booth, ticket resolution office, medical services

Aerial view

Ground view

70: HCO - Olympic Softball Stadium (SFB)

The Olympic Softball Stadium is a new construction unit situated in the heart of the Helliniko Olympic Complex in the south of Athens.

Olympic Website

The venue consists of a main Softball field of 4,800 seats, two warm-up fields and the requisite spaces for athlete, competition management, Media, Olympic Family, and staff services.

Sport: Softball Competition Schedule: 14-20, 22-23 August Athletes participating: 120 Spectator capacity: 4,800 Total land surface: 57,492 sq m Distance from Olympic Village: 33km Completion Date: 29 February 2004 Official Opening: 30 July 2004 Press seats: 87 written press, 25 photographers Spectator Services: Ticket resolution office, medical services, information desk, food concessions, merchandising concessions, WC

Aerial view

Ground view

71: Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki (THE)

Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city and one of Europe's greatest cultural, commercial and sport centres, will host some of the football preliminaries and semi-finals in the Kaftanzoglio Stadium, very close to the city centre.

Olympic website

The General Secretariat of Sports upgraded the existing facilities into a stadium of 22,700 seats, with new electromechanical and electronic infrastructure and respective equipment.

Ground view

72: Karaiskaki Stadium, Athens (ATH)

The Karaiskaki Stadium is the second largest stadium in Athens. It was used as the velodrome for the first modern Olympic Games, in 1896.

Olympic Website

In the 1960s it was renovated into the stadium that still stands today. The stadium is currently being fully renovated. In August 2004 it will be transformed into a modern Football stadium. The new stadium, located in the area of Faliro, has a capacity of 33,000 spectators.

During the Olympic Games it will host a total of 11 games (preliminaries, quarter-finals and semi-finals) of the Olympic Football Tournament as well as the women's finals.

Construction view

73: Marathon Start (MRS)

The famous Marathon race has its roots back to an ancient Greek legend, where a Greek herald named Phidippides, ran 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory against the Persians at the battle of Marathon, a small village back then, but with a great historic value to modern times.

Olympic Website

The marathon race is very popular in Greece, as a symbol of the revival of the Olympic Games, also because the first gold-medal athlete in the marathon race in 1896 was the Greek Spyros Louis.

The marathon route at the 2004 Olympic Games will be identical to the original one run by Phidippides during the ancient years and by Spyros Louis at the 1896 Olympic Games. Its starting point will be in Marathon, called the Marathon start and the finishing line at the Panathinaikon Stadium - the famous Marble Stadium known as "Kallimarmaro" where the Games were revived in 1896.

The Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works is responsible for the construction of the Marathon Start.

Sport: Marathon
Competition Schedule:
22 August (Women),
29 August (Men)
Athletes participating: 100 men, 80 women
Total land surface: 56,815 sq m (42,195m route)
Distance from Olympic Village: 47.2km
Completion Date: 30 June 2004
Official Opening: 21 August 2004
Press seats: 29 written press, 10 photographers
Spectator Services: Free transportation from Metro station, trolleys with soft drinks-water, WCs

Aerial view

74: Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre (EQU)

The Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre is situated in the east Attica region.

Olympic Website

The Centre covers an area of approximately 940.000 square meters and includes work areas, permanent and temporary stands, fields, stables for 300 horses, internal road network and parking areas.

The capacity of the Centre is 10.000 seats for the Jumping Event, 8.100 seats for the Dressage and 15.000 seats for the Cross-Country Event.

The Sport Event was successfully conducted in this venue in August 2003.

Sport: Equestrian
Competition Schedule: 15-18, 20-25, 28 August
Athletes participating: 200
Spectator capacity:
Dressage: 8,100,
Jumping: 10,000,
Cross Country: 15,000
Total land surface: 940,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 43km
Completion Date: December 2003
Official Opening: 12 August 2004
Press seats: 110 written press, 38 photographers
Spectator Services: Internal transportation, parking, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs

Aerial view

75: Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre (SHO)

The Olympic Shooting Centre in Markopoulo, in the east Attica region, covers an area of 312,000 sq m. It consists of four main buildings with a total capacity of 4,000 spectators, for the events of Shooting with mobile and clay targets. Other facilities include restaurants, hostels, indoor halls for finals, reception areas, press areas, greenery and parking areas.

Olympic Website

Sport: Shooting
Competition Schedule: 14-22 August
Athletes participating: 390
Spectator capacity: 4,000
Total land surface: 312,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 42km
Completion Date: March 2004
Official Opening: 2 August 2004
Press seats: 70 written press, 16 photographers
Spectator Services: Food concessions, Olympic Products selling points, information desk, ticket office, ticket resolution office, clinic, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, WCs.

Indoor view 1

Indoor view 2

76: Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall (NIH)

The Olympic Weightlifting Hall in Nikaia, an area in the southwest of the Attica region, consists of a main Indoor Gym building with a capacity of 5,100 seats.

Weightlifting is very popular for Greeks and the Hall was one of the first projects to be planned and supported for the 2004 Olympic Games by the General Secretariat of Sports. It includes supplementary areas for warming up, resting, changing, training, hygiene-medical care and hostels for the athletes, as well as additional rooms for security, press, spectators' services and recreation.

Sport: Weightlifting
Competition Schedule: 14-16, 18-21, 23-25 August
Athletes participating: 260
Spectator capacity: 5,100
Total land surface: 8,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 29.5km
Official Opening: 14 August 2004
Press seats: 150
Spectator Services: Ticket resolution office, food concessions, merchandising concessions, spectators medical services, lost & found office, stroller storage, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs.

Exterior view

Interior view

77: OAKA - Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA)

The Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA) is situated at Maroussi and will be the centre of the Olympic Games 2004. Following an ATHENS 2004 and Ministry of Culture initiative, the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has designed the upgrade of OAKA using innovative and creative ways, including the new roof structure for Olympic Stadium.

The Complex includes the Olympic Stadium, which will host the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the Athletics events and the Football gold medal match, the Olympic Indoor Hall, where the finals of Basketball will take place, the Olympic Aquatic Centre, the Olympic Tennis Centre and the Olympic Velodrome.

The Ministry of Culture is responsible for this project.

Construction detail

78: OAKA - Olympic Aquatic Centre (AQU)

The Olympic Aquatic Centre, which is located at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex in Maroussi, will host the ever-popular Swimming, Water Polo, Synchronised Swimming and Diving events.

Olympic Website

The Centre consists of two outdoor and one indoor pool. The Swimming and Water Polo events will be held at the Main Pool. Synchronised Swimming will take place at the Synchronised Swimming Pool. Finally, Water Polo and Diving will be held at the indoor pool.

Sports:
Swimming, Water Polo (main pool),
Synchronised Swimming - (Synchronised Swimming pool),
Diving - (indoor pool)
Competition Schedule:
14-21 August (Swimming),
15-27 & 29 August (Water Polo),
23-27 August (Synchronised Swimming),
14,16, 20-28 August (Diving)
Athletes participating: 1,300
Swimming 800
Diving 136
Synchronised Swimming 104
Water Polo 260
Spectator capacity:
Main pool 11,500
Indoor pool 6,200
Synchronised Swimming pool 5,300
Total land surface: 78,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 14.5km
Completion Date: End of 2003
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats:
Main pool & Synchronised Swimming pool: 300 written press, 60 photographers
Indoor pool: 180 written press, 42 photographers
Spectator Services: 4 Olympic Products selling points, 3 info booths, 3 ticket resolution offices, 3 clinics, 10 roving medical teams, ambulance, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, 10 food concessions, WCs, stroller storage, water coolers.

Main outdoor pool

Indoor pool

79: OAKA - Olympic Indoor Hall (OIH)

The elegant sport of Gymnastics (Artistic & Trampoline) and the fast paced Basketball games (finals) will take place in the Olympic Indoor Hall, at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, located at Maroussi, a northern Athens suburb.

Olympic Website

During Games-time, seating capacity will reach 19,250 for Basketball and 17,500 for Artistic gymnastics and Trampoline. The Ministry of Culture is responsible for the renovation of the Hall.

Sports: Gymnastics (Artistic/ Trampoline)
Competition Schedule:
14-19, 22-24 August (Gymnastics Artistic),
20-21 August (Trampoline)
Athletes participating:
Gymnastics Artistic 196,
Trampoline 32
Spectator capacity: 17,500
Total land surface: 61,750 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 14.5km
Completion Date: 30 June 2004
Official Opening: 10 August 2004
Press seats: 300 written press, 60 photographers
Spectator Services: Ticket office, information desk, medical services, Olympic Products selling points, food concessions, public phones, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, water coolers, WCs.

Aerial view

Indoor View

80: OAKA - Olympic Stadium (STA)

During the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games, Athletics events will be staged at the Athens Olympic Stadium, with the exception of the Marathon, the Road Walk events and the Shot-put, that will be held in the Ancient Olympia Stadium.

Olymipc Website

The Olympic Stadium, the centre of the Olympic Games 2004, is situated at Maroussi and it is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA). The Olympic Stadium will host 72,000 spectators, who will attend the exciting athletics events, the Football gold medal match and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Following an ATHENS 2004 and Ministry of Culture initiative, the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has designed the upgrade of OAKA using innovative and creative ways, including the new roof structure for Olympic Stadium.

The Ministry of Culture is responsible for this project.

Sport: Athletics
Competition Schedule: 20-29 August
Athletes participating: 2,000
Spectator capacity: 72,000
Total land surface: 127,625 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 14.5km
Completion Date: June 2004
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 600 written press, 120 photographers

Spectator Services: Ticket resolution office, medical services, first aid, information desk, food concessions, merchandising concessions, VISA ATM, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, WC.

Aerial photo

Ground photo

81: OAKA - Olympic Tennis Centre (TEN)

The Olympic Tennis Centre is situated at Maroussi and is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA). It will host some of the best-known Tennis athletes in the world.

The Tennis Centre consists of the main court (8,600 seats), two semi-final courts (4,300 seats), and 13 other courts (200 seats each).

Olympic website

Sport: Tennis
Competition Schedule: 15-22 August
Athletes participating: 172
Spectator capacity: 8,600 seats (main court), 4,300 seats (two semi-final courts)
Total land surface: 69,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 14.5km
Completion Date: February 2004
Official Opening: 2 August 2004
Press seats: 156 written press, 30 photographers
Spectator Services: Ticket resolution office, medical services, information desk, food concessions, merchandising concessions, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, WC.

Semi-final court

Main court

82: OAKA - Olympic Velodrome (VEL)

The Olympic Velodrome, at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA), is the venue where the Track Cycling discipline will take place. It is expected to host 5,250 spectators, who will have the opportunity to view the fast-paced sport in the modern Velodrome venue.

Olympic website

The field of play is a wooden track made by afzelia hard wood of 250 m. length and 7,20 m. width. The banking at the two bends is 42 degrees and at the two straights is 12 degrees.

The renovation of the Velodrome is included in the project Aesthetic Unification of OAKA, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. Part of it includes its roof, designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Sport: Cycling Track
Competition Schedule: 20-25 August
Athletes participating: 188
Spectator capacity: 5,250
Total land surface: 53,400 sq m
Distance from Ol. Village: 14.5km
Completion Date: 30 May 2004
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 110 written press, 30 photographers
Spectator Services: Ticket resolution office, medical services, information desk, food concessions, merchandising concessions, WCs.

Aerial view

Interior view

83: Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras (PAT)

Another stadium that will host Football, the world's favourite game, is the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium in Patra, a city in the north of Peloponissos (one of the largest district in Greece).

Olympic website

The existing stadium that has been used for several regional and national football games in the past was upgraded by the General Secretariat of Sports to meet Olympic demands.

Mainly, electromechanical and electronic infrastructure, along with respective equipment were renewed, whereas more parking areas and surrounding areas are built to go with the overall capacity.

Sport: Football (preliminaries) Competition Schedule: 11-12, 14, 17-18, 20, 23 August Athletes participating: 396 Spectator capacity: 21.000 Total land surface: 140.860 sq m Official Opening: 8 August 2004 Press seats: 120

Ground view

84: Panathinaiko Stadium (PAN)

The Panathinaiko Stadium, widely known as “Kallimarmaro”, is the stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896.

Olympic Website

Even in ancient years, the area where the Panathinaiko (or Panathenian) Stadium stands today was largely used to host the Panathenean Games, festival events that were held to honour the Greek goddess Athena (the Goddess of wisdom, skills and warfare and protector of the city of Athens in ancient Greece).

Historians considered it to be “a miracle above description that it had almost exhausted the marble quarries of mountain Penteli” (Pausanias). It is situated in the heart of the Greek capital, Athens and was first reconstructed in 1895 for the purpose of becoming the main stadium to host the 1896 Olympic Games.

The time has come to serve once again as one of the competition venues for this great sporting event: the 2004 Olympic Games. The renovations that took place, under the responsibility of the General Secretariat of Sports and the Ministry of Culture, included upgrades and modifications on its infrastructure, mainly in the scope of restoration of the monument, configuration of the track and surrounding areas, incorporation of lighting, and establishment of anti-fire systems. During the Olympic Games the Stadium will have a 34,500 capacity for the Marathon finish and 7,500 for Archery.

Sport: Archery, Marathon Finish

Competition Schedule:
15-21 August (Archery),
22 August (Women's Marathon Finish),
29 August (Men's Marathon Finish)
Athletes participating: Archery 128, Marathon Finish 180
Spectator capacity: Archery 7,500, Marathon Finish 34,500
Total land surface: 128,331 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 24km
Completion Date: 31 January 2004
Official Opening: 12 August 2004
Press seats: 90 written press, 20 photographers
Spectator Services: Olympic Products selling point, info booth, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs, WCs, clinic, ticket resolution office, ticket office, stroller storage area

Photograph

85: Pankritio Stadium, Heraklio (HER)

Beautiful Crete, the wonderful island in the south of Greece, is another Olympic destination for athletes, visitors and spectators from all over the world. A stadium with a capacity of 26,400 seats will host the sport of Football during the Olympic Games. It also includes a 400 m track of eight lanes, shot put and hammer throw valves and other facilities (swimming pool, multipurpose hall, administration offices etc.) for post-Olympic use.

Olympic Website

Sport: Football
Competition Schedule: 11-12, 14-15, 18, 20-21, 23 August
Athletes participating: 360
Spectator capacity: 26,400
Total land surface: 193,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Hotel: 23km
Completion Date: 31 December 2003
Official Opening: 11 August 2004
Press seats: 138
Spectator Services: Clinic, 2 first aid points, ticket office, 2 ticket resolution offices, 3 merchandising stores, 19 refreshment rooms, information desk, environment information point

Ground view

86: Panthessaliko Stadium, Volos (VOL)

The Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos, one of the most beautiful cities at the middle eastern part of Greece, will host the preliminary phase of the Olympic Football Tournament games.

Olympic website

The Panthessaliko Sports Complex entails the reformation of the existing stands and buildings into a new structure of 22,700 seats.

Sport: Football (Preliminaries)
Competition Schedule: 11, 12, 15, 17 August
Athletes participating: 288
Spectator capacity: 22,700
Total land surface: 127,800 sq m
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 133

Ground view

87: Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike Venue (MTB)

The Cycling/Mountain Bike competition will take place along a magnificent route at Parnitha, a mountain situated in the north of Athens, close to the city centre and even closer to the Olympic Village.

Olympic Website

The Venue is situated in the Municipalty of Acharnai and involves a temporary overlay, undertaken by the General Secretariat of Sports.

At the venue was successfully held the Mountain Bike Sport Event on 15-16 May 2004.

Sport: Mountain Bike
Competition Schedule: 27-28 August
Athletes participating: 80
Spectator capacity: 15,500
Total land surface: 1,000,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 7.5 km
Official Opening: 23 August 2004
Press seats: 80 written press, 20 photographers
Spectator Services: Medical services, 2 first aid points, ticket office, merchandising store, 2 food concessions, videoboard, info booth

Track view

88: Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF)

The famous Peace and Friendship Stadium, situated on the magnificent coast of Faliro, in the south of Athens, very close to the port of Piraeus, is a jewel of modern architectural style. The stadium enjoyed international prestige and an enviable reputation thanks to its use as a venue for important European and international sport championships as well as professional and commercial fairs.

Olympic website

Its renovation was undertaken by the General Secretariat of Sports and resulted in a 13,200 seated capacity stadium which will host during the Olympic Games the exciting Volleyball contest and in the future other sport, social, commercial and cultural events.

Sport: Volleyball
Competition Schedule: 14-29 August
Athletes participating: 288
Spectator capacity: 13,200
Total land surface: 81,000 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 25km
Completion Date: 30 June 2004
Official Opening: 11 August 2004
Press seats: 180
Spectator Services: 3 Olympic Products selling points, Info Booth, ticket resolution office, ticket office, 3 clinics, ambulance, 5 food concessions, WCs, stroller storage, water coolers, environment information point, vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs.

Bay view

Roof view

89: Peristeri Olympic Boxing Hall (PBH)

The Boxing competition will be held at a new venue in the Municipality of Peristeri in the West Attica region.

Olympic Website

This new Indoor Hall will have a total capacity of 8,000 seats during Games-time. The area of construction is near the National Road and a close distance from the Olympic Village, Dekeleia Training Complex, and the centre of Athens where the accommodation of the National Boxing Federation will be located.

The new competition venue will be serviced by two metro stations (Sepolia and Aghios Antonios).

Sport: Boxing
Competition Schedule: 14-25, 27-29 August
Athletes participating: 286
Spectator capacity: 8,000
Total land surface: 60,900 sq m
Official Opening: 13 August 2004
Press seats: 250

Aerial view

Indoor view

90: Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre (SCH)

The Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre near Marathonas region will host 14,000 spectators.

Olympic Website

The main part of the lake, which will host the Rowing and Canoe/Kayak Flatwater games, is 2,250 metres long and linked to a smaller auxiliary lake, which will be used for training and warm-up purposes.

The Sport Events of Rowing and Canoeing in August 2003 were successfully held at this venue.

Sport: Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Racing
Competition Schedule: 23-28 August
Athletes participating: 246
Spectator capacity: 14,000
Total land surface: 1,240 sq km
Distance from Ol. Village: 34.1km
Completion Date: 31 January 2004
Official Opening: 30 July 2004
Press seats: 112 written press, 30 photographers
Spectator Services: Olympic Products selling points, public phones, COSMOTE card vending machine, ATM, ticket office, information desk, lost and found area, stroller storage, clinic, water coolers, food concessions, WCs

Southwest view

Building view

91: Vouliagmeni Olympic Centre (VOU)

Triathlon (Swimming, Cycling and Running) will be conducted at the south coast of Attica in Vouliagmeni.

Olympic Website

There will be 3,600 temporary seats for the spectators of the sport. The Cycling Time Trial event will take place at the Vouliagmeni and Agia Marina route.

The Sport Event of Cycling was successfully conducted at this venue in August 2003.

Sport: Cycling Time Trial, Triathlon
Competition Schedule:
18 August (Cycling),
25-26 August (Triathlon)
Athletes participating: 100
Spectator capacity: 3,600
Total land surface: 60,900 sq m
Distance from Olympic Village: 45km
Completion Date: 30 June 2004
Official Opening: 2 August 2004
Press seats: 100 press, 25 photographers
Spectator Services: Ticket office, clinic, merchandising concession, food concessions, Videoboard, info booth

Aerial view

Ground view

92: Main Press Centre (MPC)

The Main Press Centre (MPC) is the principal facility where the representatives of the international written and photographic Press will be based at Games-time.

Olympic website

The MPC will open its gates one month prior to the Opening Ceremony, on July 13 2004, to 5,500 accredited journalists, including 1,100 accredited photographers and journalists of non-rights holding broadcasters (ENRs). As of 27 July 2004, the MPC will operate on a 24-hour basis. A stand-alone Non-Competition Venue, the MPC will be one of the Olympic Venues with the longest period of operation.

The MPC is a modern and functional building complex. It is located next to the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC), a short distance from the Olympic Stadium. The complex comprises of the fully revamped HELEXPO building (the National Exhibition Organiser), and two other modern structures. The total complex space exceeds 52,000 sq.m., thus making the MPC the largest such centre in Olympic Games history. The mission of the MPC Venue Operations is to create ideal working conditions for the representatives of the international written and photographic Press, allowing the best possible coverage of the Olympic Games.

The Main Press Centre will also be home to the headquarters of the ATHENS 2004 Press Operations. The offices of the IOC Communications Department will also be located there.

Exterior view

93: International Broadcast Centre (IBC)

The International Broadcast Centre (IBC), situated adjacent to Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OCO) and the MPC, will be the home base for all of the Rights Holders Broadcasters (RHBs) and the centre of all broadcast operations during the Athens Games, undertaken by the Host Broadcasting Organisation, Athens Olympic Broadcasting (AOB). This will be the world's largest Broadcast Centre, a global village that, during a few weeks (13 July - 3 October 2004), will have a population of some 10,000 people (not including the broadcasters operating at the venues). This "village" will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The IBC space will be allocated for the following users:

1. Athens Olympic Broadcasting (AOB), for all operational and technical areas needed by the host broadcaster, covering more than 10,000 sqm.

2. Rights Holders Broadcasters, for their operational and technical areas, covering more than 40,000 sqm.

3. ATHENS 2004, covering more than 20,000 sqm, for administration and support needs, including common services, like: ,p> * Banking services, ATM (currency exchange, deposits, etc.)
* Customs broker
* Food and beverage services of different types and categories
* Information desks
* Medical services, first aid
* Vending machines for mobile telephony prepaid vouchers and connection packs
* Newsstand (offering international and local press, souvenirs, post cards and other items)
* Common photocopiers, public telephones, facsimile equipment
* Sundries & souvenir shop
* Travel agency
* Postal service and courier service

The General Secretariat of Sports (GSS) is responsible for building the facility shell, which will be more that 70,000 square metres, and AOB will be responsible for interior design, construction and fit out of AOB and RHBs areas.

External view

94: Olympic Village (OLV)

A safe environment that is convenient, stress-free, friendly and respectful of multiculturalism will be provided. All actions will be guided by an “Athletes First” philosophy where residents can enjoy the Greek spirit of hospitality with an extensive workforce that will cater to all residents needs on a 24hour basis. Indeed, we are confident that residents and visitors alike will depart with positive memories.

Olympic website

The entertainment and recreation services provided for athletes in the Village will be extensive, support a wide scale of interests, and promote a positive state of mind for all residents. The program will be inviting to all athletes that wish to be entertained, but will be sensitive to those who wish to focus on their competition or simply get away from it all.

The Olympic Village includes a variety of entertainment options where residents can enjoy their spare time.

A Sports Complex of more than 5,000 square meters with an Olympic size swimming pool, a jogging track, four tennis courts and state of the art gym facilities will be made available to all residents. The Olympic Village is keen to introduce an Open-Air cinema in the evening hours under the stars. There will be a Café, which will also operate as a dance club with live entertainment in evening hours. Among the other features offered to residents will be games rooms, Internet cafes and an online Village daily newspaper.

The Athens Olympic Village will have two secure zones: the Residential Zone and the International Zone. The Residential Zone will feature newly constructed apartments, dining facilities, recreational centers, meeting rooms, religious centers, a Polyclinic and a Transportation Mall. In particular, all residences and offices of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will be housed in permanent structures. The International Zone includes the main Olympic Village entrance, shopping centers, the Olympic museum, and the amphitheatre.

Total land surface: 1,240,000 sq m
Total length: 2,090 m
Total width: 766 m
Indoor hall: 3,000 sq m
Outdoor sporting facilities for recreational use: 30,000 sq m
Soft opening: 23 July 2004
Official opening: 30 July 2004
Closing: 1 September 2004

Ground view 1

Ground view 2

95: Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (AIR)

The Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (named after the famous Greek Prime Minister that formed a new government at the beginning of the 20th century), is one of the most important guarantees for the smooth functioning of the Athens Olympic Games.

Olympic website

It is located at Spata, Athens and was inaugurated on 28 March 2001. It promises to be Europe's new southern gateway to the world. The airport is operating with the most advanced technologies and equipment, with its focus on safety, user-friendliness and service excellence. It is designed to accommodate 16 million passengers per year (600 daily landings to and from Athens). This modern, safe, reliable and competitive airport solidifies Greece's position in the international transport network. The project is one of the greatest infrastructure works ever constructed or implemented in Greek history.

The airport, like other modern airports around the world, has all the latest amenities available to the travelling public. These services include business centres, restaurants, banking, postal facilities and Greek Tourism services. Additionally, the airport has the first Olympic Games Store in Greece, with licensed products bearing the emblem of ATHENS 2004.

Aerial view