The first impression I had as we prepared to dock was that, unlike the rocky and sometimes barren country side of other Greek towns, Katakolon is lush with green hillsides, gardens and orchards. This small fishing village is transformed by hordes of tourists landing on their pier but must be quite charming in the winter months when we are away.
The excursion today was the Olympia Archaeological Site - yes, another chaotic heap of marble and limestone ruin! What made this ruin special was that it is where the Olympics started roughly 2700 years ago. It is also home to the Temple of Zeus (not to be confused with the Temple of Olympian Zeus from yesterday). This one was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Everything was destroyed by the Roman Emperor Theodosis in 393 and a couple of major earthquakes finished the place off. Like so many of the places we’ve visited, they are continuently digging deeper and discovering new (old) things. Prehistoric temple ruins can be found beneath the foundations of temples constructed during the classical period. We walked the field where the Stadium once stood and runners competed.
The museum at Olympus contains many of the artifacts dug out from the seven or more feet of soil that covered the ruins. There is still an active archeological effort underway; so the museum may grow. The pediments from the Temple of Zeus were especially well preserved. Of interest to the grandsons especially, there is the original helmet worn by the Greek general who defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon and who sent the first runner back to Athens with news of the victory It is on display along with a bronze helmet of the Persians.
We returned to port where the streets that were lined with appealing shops of all sorts - okay, it was a “tourist trap” - but I was drawn in! I even found a gift for my dad that he would appreciate - a bowl hand-turned with wood
from an olive tree.
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