A Wonder to Behold

This was not just an athletic event, it was also a pilgrimage to the sacred site of Zeus. It was here that one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the colossal statue of Zeus rested in all its splendor. And for Steve, it was the completion of being last on the list of the ancient 7 wonders of the world he has visited. Not many can claim that bragging rights. I have only seen 4 of the 7 sites. I still have to see the Pyramids, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and Alexander’s Lighthouse.

The statue of Zeus was over 39 feet tall or about the same height as a 4-story building. It was made of gold covered bronze and ivory. Zeus’s throne was made of ivory, gold, ebony and precious stones. It must have been quite a site to behold. Since the games were as much a religious festival as an athletic event it centered around pagan worship. In the middle of the games, 100 oxen were sacrificed to Zeus. Now days we just offer nachos and salsa.

Ironically it was the pagan worship that eventually caused the demise of the Olympic games. With the decline of the ancient religion, the people attended less and less. In 393 AD, the last of the games were held because Theodosius l prohibited the cult and games from gathering as a way of imposing Christianity as the state religion. Christianity had won out and the statue of Zeus was sent to Constantinople where it was eventually destroyed by fire in 475 AD.