Athens War Museum

Today Bob and I decided to visit a museum in Athens we hadn't been to yet. I pass by this museum frequently and wanted to take a look inside as the outside has old planes which intrigued me. Inside was huge, with lots of different parts of war: the weapons, attire, paintings, sculpture, portraits of important people.

This room was full of swords and guns.

In addition to all the weapons, they had some replicas of battle scenes from friezes, pediments, and grave stelae.

They had this replica of Mystras. See my old blog on this, but there is a castle at the top and then an old palace and many basilicas as you go down the mountain. I thought the replica was interesting because I could put together the site I'd been to.

The old spike weapons.

Olympia

Olympia is a very famous site in Greece as it is host to the original Olympic games. Maybe not so well known is the fact that the site was a sanctuary. Interesting fact if you didn't already know women weren't allowed to see the Olympics as the naked men in competition were thought to be too much for them to handle.

Nymphaeion of Herodes. This fountain was used for washing.

Zoom in on some fountain detail.

Zoom out on the Nymphaeion of Herodes.

Palaistra. It was a square building with an inner central court. The inside had rooms used for undressing, anointing the body with oil, powdering it with dust, and baths etc. The yard was a training area for practice in wrestling, boxing, and jumping.

Palaistra

Palaistra courtyard area.

Pelopion. The mound where the worship of the hero Pelops took place.

Philippieon. This is a partial restoration.

Philippieon. 

Prehistoric Building

Prytaneion. The seat of the dignitaries of the sanctuary, who were responsible for the sacrifices carried out at the altars.

Entrance to the stadium.

The Olympic Stadium.

Doesn't seem like much anymore...

The South West Building. A meeting place for athletes.

Temple of Hera

Inside the Temple of Hera

Temple of Zeus

Zeus 2

Zeus again

Zeus from another angle

 

Still Zeus

Ye old Treasury

The Workshop of Pheidias. The building where the sculptor Pheidias fashioned the colossal golden and ivory statue Zeus.

Workshop take 2

And another shot of the workshop

Base of the Nike Monument

 

Council House Bouleterion. Meeting building for the Olympic Council.

Greek baths Kladeos Thermae. These baths had an open air swimming pool.

Baths again.

House of Nero (??)

Leonidaion. Large building for the accommodation of the officials. In Roman times, the central court was converted into an open-air swimming pool.

Leonidaion Thermae. A smaller bath than above. It was a guest house and later was converted into a wine factory.

There were a few more things here, but I lost track of which pictures I already added, and there are probably too many pictures already. I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit through Ancient Olympia!