Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity
The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games in Ancient Olympia is housed in the reconstructed "SYNGREION", the first Archaeological Museum of Olympia. This neoclassical building, one of the most beautiful in Greece, was erected in the 1880s with its cost being covered in the form of a donation by the Greek banker Andreas Syggros, whose name the museum honorably bears.
Here were housed for the first time, the artistic and historical treasures of Olympia, the Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paioniοs, the sculptural decoration of the temple of Zeus and dozens more findings of the systematic excavations that were in progress since 1875 under the responsibility of the German Archaeological Institute. These works were transferred during the 1970s to the New Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the historical museum has remained closed to the public since then.
On the eve of the Olympic Games "ATHENS 2004" the abandoned "Old Museum of Olympia", as it was informally called, is fully restored, acquires its own collection of exhibits and on March 24, 2004 officially begins to operate as the Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity.
The approximately 400 ancient works that come mainly from Olympia narrate known and unknown aspects of the worship of gods in whose honor the Games were held, but also from many other important archaeological sites, historical sites and ancient cities of Greece. These works (clay vases, statues, mosaics, bronze figurines and statuettes, equipment for athletes and the Games, coins, etc.) have been granted in the form of long-term loans from services and museums of the Ministry of Culture and in total cover a wide chronological spectrum, from the 2nd millennium BC up to the 5th century AD.
In the full of glamor and nobility building, are presented important chapters of the fascinating history of the Olympics and other Games in the great Panhellenic sanctuaries (Pythia, Isthmia, Nemea and Panathenaia), such as: the prehistory of sport, the inception of the Games in Olympia, Zeus and his cult, Elis (Ilida) and its role in the organization of the Games and the preparation of the athletes, women and sports, the Games, the winners of the Games, the spectators of the Games etc.
Copyediting: Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia
Ancient Olympia can be reached by train from Katakolon and Pyrgos, by bus and by private vehicle. The museum is located in a central part of Ancient Olympia.
Τhe integrated ticket, valid for one day, is 20 euros (reduced ticket 10 euros) and includes entrance to the following areas:
- Archaeological Site of Olympia
- Archaeological Museum of Olympia,
- Museum of the History of the Olympic Games of Antiquity
- Museum of the History of the Excavations in Olympia.
Individual tickets (per area of interest) are no longer issued.
The following categories of visitors are entitled to 50% reduced admission
- Greek citizens and citizens of other European Union member states over 65 years of age, upon presentation of their police ID or passport to confirm age and country of origin, during the period from October 1st to May 31st of each year.
- Parents accompanying primary education schools visits from EU member-states and the European Economic Area.
- Accompanying teachers of educational visits of schools and institutions of primary, secondary and tertiary education from non European Union countries.
Free admission - Exemption from the obligation to pay a price
1. Entrance to organized archaeological sites, historical sites, monuments and museums that belong to the State and are managed by the Ministry of Culture is free, without payment of a fee, on the following dates:
- March 6th (Melina Mercouri Memorial Day),
- April 18th (International Monuments Day),
- May 18th (International Museum Day),
- Last weekend of September (European Heritage Days fortnight),
- October 28th (National Holiday)
- First and third Sunday of each month from November 1st to March 31st of each year.
2. The following categories of visitors are entitled to free admission :
- Children and young people up to the age of 25, from EU member-states, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin.
- Children up to the age of 18, from non-European Union countries, upon presentation of their passport for verification of their age and country of origin.
- Persons over 25 years, being in secondary education (evening schools, second-chance schools) and in vocational schools from EU member-states and countries of the European Economic Area, upon presentation of attendance certificate bearing evidence of its duration.
- Accompanying teachers and learners during educational visits of schools and institutions of primary, secondary and tertiary education from EU member-states and countries of the European Economic Area.
- People entitled to Social Solidarity Income and members dependent on them, upon presentation of their ID card and certificate of free entry based on eligibility to the programme showing the duration, as well as a valid document certifying dependent members.
- Greek unemployed citizens upon presentation of their ID card and valid unemployment card or recent renewal of it.
- Persons with disabilities and one escort (only in the case of 67% disability), irrespective of the country of origin, upon presentation of their ID card or passport and Disability Certificate issued by the Single Body of Social Insurance (decision of the Disability Certification Center-KEPA) for Greek citizens or similar certificates issued by a corresponding authorized foreign body.
- Greek parents of families with many children, the children being up to the age of 25 and irrespective of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of their ID card and a valid certificate of a large family status by the Greek Supreme Confederation of large family parents and the Disability Certificate (issued by the Disability Certification Center).
- Greek parents of families with three children, the children being up to the age of 25 and irrespective of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of their ID card and a valid family status certificate issued by the Municipality and the Disability Certificate (issued by the Disability Certification Center).
- Greek single parent families with children up to the age of 25 and irrespective of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of their ID card and a valid family status certificate issued by the Municipality and the Disability Certificate (issued by the Disability Certification Center).
- Refugees, upon presentation of the International protection applicant card or a Travelling document of the 28th July 1951 Convention (a passport of recognized refugee) or a Foreign travelling document (a passport of recognised holder of subsidiary protection) or residence permit.
- Greek citizens performing their military service, with valid military service identification card.
- Greek -Olympic Winners upon presentation of their ID card and membership card of the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association.
- Official guests of the Greek State, after request of the competent Ministry (Directorate/Office for Protocol) and approval by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.
- Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), upon presentation of their ID card or passport and their valid membership card.
- Members of Societies and Associations of Friends of State Museums and Archaeological Sites, managed by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, upon presentation of their valid membership card.
- Active employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum, upon presentation of their service ID card.
- Scientists licensed for purposes of photographing, studying, designing or publishing antiquities, upon presentation of the relevant license.
- Members of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece, upon presentation of their valid membership card.
- Greek tourist guides, upon presentation of their professional ID card.
- Journalists, upon presentation of a valid journalist ID card
- Holders of a three-year Free Entry Pass.
- Members of the Association of Greek Art Historians, upon presentation of their valid membership card.
3. The following categories of visitors are entitled to obtain a three-year Free Entry Pass -retaining the right of renewal- issued by the competent Services of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports :
- Active members of the Central Councils and Regional Councils of Monuments of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
- Active members of the Board of Directors of the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum.
- Active Directors and members of Foreign Archaeological Schools in Greece.
- Contract employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum. Renewal of the free pass is possible if they continue to be employed by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum.
- Retired employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Archaeological Resources Fund, the Acropolis Museum and the Kanellopoulos Museum.
- Civil Servants in the Legal Advisor Office of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
- Greek active teachers in primary, secondary and tertiary education. In the case of substitute/hourly teachers, renewal of the free pass is possible if they continue to be employed as teachers.
- Graduates of Departments of History and Archaeology of Schools of Philosophy, as well as graduates from Schools of Architecture, Fine Arts, Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, including Technicians of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art from Greece or from equivalent Schools of EU member-states and the European Economic Area, as well as holders of Master's or PhD Degrees from those Schools and Departments.
- Graduates of Museum Studies programmes and Schools and Departments of Cultural Management of Higher Education Institutions in Greece or equivalent Institutions of EU member-states and the European Economic Area, as well as holders of Master's or PhD Degrees in those studies.
- Students and graduates of the Preparatory and Vocational School of Fine Arts of Panormos Tinos.
- Police officers of the Department of Cultural Heritage and Antiquities of Security Directorates.
Holidays
- 1 January: closed
- 25 March: closed
- Good Friday: 12:00-17:00
- Holy Saturday: 8:00-15:00
- 1 May: closed
- Easter Sunday: closed
- 25 December: closed
- 26 December: closed
- 4th Praxiteli Kondyli Str. Ancient Olympia, P.C. 27065
- 26240 29119
- Police Department of Ilia - P.D. of Ancient Olympia
Winter (November - April) :
08:30 a.m. - 03:30 p.m.
Summer (May - October) :
08:00 a.m. - 08:00 p.m.
Last admission (all days): 15 minutes before closing time.
