Introduction
Olympia was a sacred area that offered a place for sporting events to take place. The site was discovered in 1776 and excavated from 1875 to 1881 (Leonard, 2016). The location has become a huge tourist attraction due to the history that has been unearthed. Pausanias was an ancient traveler who wrote the book description of Greece. The information contained in the manuscript can be used to identify some of the monuments that were discovered after excavation. Based on the description of Olympia by Pausanias, it is possible to identify the itinerary during the visit to the site. This paper will provide a plausible itinerary of Pausanias using the book and a map of Olympia.
Plausible Itinerary
Before entering Olympia, Pausanias would have first seen River Alpheus. Olympia was famous for the Olympic games, which means that Pausanias would have been interested in the tracks and other facilities. Another aspect is that the site was also known as a sacred place and there were temples for various ancient Greek deities. Based on the observations, the first point for Pausanias was the temple of the Olympian Zeus. The site would have been of interest to Pausanias due to the size of the temple and the importance it held for the people. On the map, it is located in an open space, which may be symbolic. The next location for Pausanias would have been the temple of Hera because it was located close to the temple of Zeus. The temple of Hera would have been interesting for a traveler due to the precious works of art found inside the building. Pausanias would also have been interested in knowing the people who built it and how they did it. The other essential site would have been Tholos of Philippos, which was a smaller temple.
Pausanias would have then moved to the altar of Zeus which was located opposite the temple of Zeus. Based on the description provided by Pausanias, the altar would have been significantly huge. The ancient Greeks had many gods whom they celebrated using sacrifices. Pausanias would have covered all the altars that were located in Olympia. Some of the places of sacrifice may not be visible currently due to destruction. The next site that Pausanias visited would have been the temple of Rhea as it was next to the altar of Zeus. The other important site was the Zanes, which was a row of 16 bronze statues of Zeus.
During the era of Pausanias, the erection of bronze statues would have raised significant attention. The next location would have been the running tracks and the horse track. They are located behind the colonnade of echo, which is on the eastern side. Olympia was well known due to the games that took place in the location. Pausanias would have researched the games that were held in the past and the winners. The traveler could have interacted with some of the athletes to get a glimpse of the nature of the games. Based on the descriptions in the book, the traveler was aware of the history of the games.
Pausanias would have then moved to the front side of the location. The house of magistrates, a fountain of Herodes Atticus, and treasuries would have been the locations of interest to the traveler. As a sacred site, there was a low presence of government offices and institutions. Pausanias would have moved to the Gymnasium, which was a training complex for the athletes. Based on the description by the traveler, the site would have been filled with individuals participating in different games during the Olympics. The athletes were expected to arrive a month earlier and there were fines for failing to be on time (Leonard, 2016). Another important site would have been the Palaistra, which were the wrestling grounds. Pausanias would have marveled at the many athletes who had won different prizes in various games. The people would have provided information on some of the monuments and sites.
Therefore, based on the observations and the maps of Olympia, Pausanias’s itinerary would have started by visiting the temple of Zeus. The traveler would then have moved to other temples due to their grandiose finishing. The other interesting aspects are the altars which would have been the next sites for Pausanias. The Olympic facilities would also have interested the traveler because the site was famous for games. Pausanias would have then moved to other important locations within the area.
Critique of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Video
The video involves a game scene that features the city of Olympia. The location of the site is similar to that indicated on the map. The creators of the game also included the features that were found in the original area. One of the sites is the temple of Zeus, which was an important sacred place for ancient Greek people. Another aspect of the video is the presence of other monuments that are similar to what is found in the excavated area. The bronze statue of Cronos is also included in the game. The video also depicts the games in the same way as indicated in the texts. The winner of the games was bestowed an olive branch and not gold. This is representative of the events that happened in the ancient games. However, the game depicts the wrestlers as dressed whereas texts show that players did not cover their bodies. The decision to represent the players differently is based on the rules that are meant to protect children from obscene images.
The video game indicates that the temple of Zeus was built by Phidias. This information can be collaborated by Pausanias who indicated that Phidias was the architect who created different facets of the temple. Another aspect represented in the video is the Olympic tree that was used to make the winner’s wreath. Most of the monuments and sites represented in the video game can be found in the descriptions by Pausanias. However, certain aspects have been adapted to the current age. Therefore, the creators of the game have succeeded in representing Olympia and its sites.
Conclusion
In summary, Pausanias’s itinerary would have revolved around the sacred sites and the Olympic locations. The temple of Olympian Zeus was the most significant location due to the position of Zeus in ancient Greek philosophy. The temple was constructed to honor Zeus who was the god of the sky. The video game provides a true representation of Olympia by including the monuments and sites that have been described by Pausanias. However, some of the details in the game are modern to fit the current needs. This is concerning the wrestlers having to cover their bodies in the game.
Reference
Leonard, J. (2016). Anatomy of a Sanctuary. Greece Is. Web.