Sanctuary rituals and the cult of Zeus at Olympia (c.10th century BCE–4th century CE)

1. Pelops hero cult forms at the Pelopion

   Jan 1, 1100 BCELabels: Pelops, Pelopion, Altis

   • FHW
   • Oxford

2. Olympia becomes a Zeus-centered cult site

   Jan 1, 1000 BCELabels: Zeus, Altis, Olympia

   • UNESCO
   • Britannica

3. Olympic Truce supports safe pilgrimage to Olympia

   Jan 1, 800 BCELabels: Olympic Truce, heralds, pilgrimage

   • Britannica
   • UN
   • Perseus

4. First recorded Olympic festival held for Zeus

   Jan 1, 776 BCELabels: Olympic Games, Zeus, festival

   • UNESCO
   • Britannica

5. Heraion built, anchoring early temple worship

   Jan 1, 620 BCELabels: Heraion, Temple of, Altis

   • Britannica
   • UMich

6. Temple of Zeus constructed with war spoils

   Jan 1, 470 BCELabels: Temple of, Doric temple, Zeus

   • Britannica
   • Olympia Museum

7. Temple sculptures connect myth, ritual, and sport

   Jan 1, 460 BCELabels: Temple sculptures, Pediments, Metopes

   • Cambridge
   • Olympia Museum

8. Phidias’ Statue of Zeus installed in temple

   Jan 1, 430 BCELabels: Phidias, Statue of, Olympia

   • Britannica
   • Olympia Museum

9. Zanes statues funded by fines for cheating

   Jan 1, 388 BCELabels: Zanes, bronze statues, Olympic fines

   • Pausanias
   • Zanes

10. Herodes Atticus builds the Nymphaeum water monument

    Jan 1, 150Labels: Herodes Atticus, Nymphaeum, aqueduct

    • FHW
    • UMich

11. Pausanias records Olympia’s rituals and monuments

    Jan 1, 160Labels: Pausanias, travel account, Olympia

    • Cambridge
    • Britannica

12. Imperial bans end the Olympic festival tradition

    Jan 1, 393Labels: Imperial bans, Christian policy, Olympic Games

    • UNESCO
    • Guinness

13. Zeus sanctuary buildings decline and later suffer earthquakes

    Jan 1, 551Labels: earthquakes, ruins, Christian settlement

    • UNESCO
    • Zeus Temple