Ancient Olympus

From the west coast of the Peloponnese, we travelled inland just for an hour or so, to the site of Ancient Olympus.

We couldn't have picked a hotter day to visit. Having slept in the Landy under pine trees at a coastal camp site, we arrived at Olympus mid morning and luckily found a shady tree. This is really important as the food in the Landy would fry if exposed to sunlight. The silver foil bubble sheet that we put on the topside of the headlining is really working well. We also fit the window foils if there is any chance of sun striking the glass and these precautions have meant that the temperature isn't too high when we are stationary. Of course we have to keep the windows closed and the doors locked.

As for travelling, we don't have air-con of course (tee hee!) and we are now driving most of the time with both front windows fully open and the vents under the windscreen, wide-open too. These vents, the cause of so much angst amongst Land Rover drivers, are absolutely amazing when it comes to cool temperature drives. They direct outside air straight into the cab and it is lovely!

It has been fairly hot:-

So we were dodging the crowds at Ancient Olympus, which, once you are through the gate, are really spread out. Once again, as in Epidavros and Delphi, you can only stand amazed at the complexity of the remains, marvelling at the skills and endeavour of peoples so many centuries ago.

It's remarkable in scale and detail, with the buildings outside and the recovered statues, friezes, implements and other household goods, all on show in the museum.

It's the site of the original Olympic Games and it's here that the flame begins its journey to each new Games, although they must bring their own matches as there's no sign of an eternal flame.

Something intriguing caught my eye outside - it was a special information board:-

It provided me with extra interest as we walked the huge site. When I finally found what I was looking for, I could only wonder at what the 'technical reasons' might have been (answers on a post card please).

In the museum, we were careful when taking photos. Here's Dawn, not posing this time...

...but clearly distracted by something...

Another statue took pride of place in its own room.

This wonderful guy is Hermes of Praxiteles, the messenger of the Gods, charged with carrying the infant Dionysos to the Nymphs who would nurse him. The statue was carved at around 340 B.C. They say that he would have been holding a bunch of grapes, with the infant's outstretched arm trying to take some. Clearly all that's left now are a couple of plums.