Katakolon: Olympia

Finally... more time to write about our trip! Our third cruise stop was a little island called Katakolon. The cruise port itself was not very exciting, but on the island is the ancient site of Olympia, which was very interesting. Olympia is the place where the origional Olympic games were held in the 7th century, B.C. Back in ancient times the place was actually unoccupied most of the time. Every four years when the Olympic games took place, people came from all the surrounding areas to take part. Our guide told us that even if a war was happening, arms were put down so that the games could be played. Back in classical times the Olympics were much different than they are now. Only men could participate in and watch the games. The story goes that there was once a woman who snuck in to see her son compete. Her husband and father had been great athletes who had died heroically at war. After they died her son had no one to train him, so she dressed up like a man and did the job herself. When her son took first place she was so happy she cried, which tipped off everyone else in the stadium. The penalty for a woman who snuck in was death. In an attempt to explain herself she made a speach in front of the men telling them exactly who she was, the wife and daughter of their great heros. She must have made quite an impression because they pardoned her of her "crime." From then on all spectators and athletes had to go naked during the duration of the games, to make sure nothing of the sort ever happened again.
Olympia has a wonderful museum with several ancient statues in it. One of my favorites was Hermes of Praxiteles. It looks very similar to Michelangelo's David. Jay liked the bull best. We enjoyed touring around the ruins and even had a photo op at the origional starting line for the forty yard dash!