Panathenaic Olympic Stadium

Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art

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Around 140 CE the Panathenaic Stadium was restored by Herodes Atticus, giving its current horseshoe shape. It was 204.07m long, 33.35m wide, and had a seating capacity of around 50,000 people. After the 1870 excavation that discovered it, people decided to restore it once again for the newly created Olympic Games, announced on June 23, 1894, by Baron Pierre de Coubertin speaking at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Under the direction of G. Averof, marble from Mt. Penteli was used - this was the same marble used to build the Parthenon 24 centuries earlier and which was used during the first reconstruction in 140. The new stadium holds over 60,000 and hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Ancient Greek Mythology: Panathenaic Olympic Stadium
Panathenaic Olympic Stadium, 1920s	Panathenaic Olympic Stadium - Entrance
Panathenaic Olympic Stadium, 1906

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