Katakalon & Olimpia - June 15, 2012

It’s another hot and sunny day here in Greece.  We docked at sunrise at Katakalon, which is nothing more than a little port affording access to Olimpia, ancient home of the Olympic Games.  Katie has told you a little about that but I’ll add some anectodal information our guide Dimitrias provided us.  A word about him.  He was a great guide, very knowledgeable and he  loved to talk. After visiting the museum we walked around the site of the ancient Olympic games which included training facilities, temples, bath houses and the stadium. While we heard many interesting tidbits of information, one that particularly stuck in our minds was about cheaters.  When the games first began centuries B.C.E. athletes would come to Olimpia every four years to compete.  During the time of the games a truce was held so that both athletes and spectators could come from all the city-states without fear of harm, despite the fact that there was usually lots of fighting going on.  The sports in which they trained and participated were all skills which would be helpful in combat should their weapons be lost.  Initially the athletes competed for the glory of winning and the honor of receiving a crown of olive branches. As with all things the games cost money to put on and there began to be sponsors of events and individual athletes.  Prizes of a monetary nature began to be given. When that happened another phenomenon began to occur – cheating!  Compeittors would do things like try to trip others in their races.  If someone was caught cheating a heavy price had to be paid. The cheater was banned from the sport for life.  Additionally, a bronze statue of the cheater was cast and put on display in the stadium alongside a plaque listing his name, his family’s names, his sponsors and friends names.  All were to be considered part of the infamy and to be shunned,  Apparently there were 13 such statues around the stadium.

The large stone on the left is the one used to light the Olympic Torch

While the site is in ruins, one part is used to this day. For both the Summer and Winter Games, the Olympic Torch is lit here and then begins to make it’s journey to the site of the games.