About 30 of Olympia’s buildings can now be toured in 3D, including the stadium, the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic flame is lit.
The Greek authorities released an application on Wednesday that allows Internet users to virtually visit ancient Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games and one of the main archaeological treasures of Greece.
About 30 of Olympia’s buildings can now be toured in 3D, including the stadium, the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic flame is lit, and the workshop of sculptor Phidias, author of the Parthenon in Athens.
The Greek Ministry of Culture, which involved Microsoft in the project, stated in a statement that the monuments were “as faithful to their original form as possible.”
Cameras and drones were used to take thousands of photos of the site and create digital models, the ministry said.
Among the attractions of the application (https://olympiacommongrounds.gr/explore and also on smartphone) is the legendary gold and ivory statue of Zeus, created by Phidias.
Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the statue was lost or destroyed in the 5th century BC.
Olympia hosted the Olympics, one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece for centuries. Competitions included boxing, wrestling, jumping, foot and horse races, discus and javelin throw.
The Olympic Games were held from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD and were later relaunched to Athens in 1896.
About 150,000 people visit Olympia each year, located about 265 km from Athens, according to the Greek statistical agency. (I)
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