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I wasn’t expecting to think this was so interesting- but we ran all over the track and up the stairs- it was a great stop for 20-30 minutes. To imagine this was made all of marble is incredible.
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Date of experience: March 2021
1 Helpful vote
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The Panathinaiko or Panathenaic Stadium is a must-see when visiting Athens. This was the site of the precursor of the modern Olympics, the Panathenaic Games that took place every 4 years from the 4th Century BCE to the 6th Century AD. We had first spotted the stadium from the east end of the Acropolis, nestled in a ravine between two wooded hills, Agra and Ardettos, and it was a fairly easy stroll from our hotel. This is the world’s only stadium made entirely of marble, but the current structure does not date that far back. The narrow valley been the site of a race course since the 6th Century BCE, even prior to the Panathenaic Games, and initially spectators just watched from the hillside. 200 years later, during the 4th Century BCE, formal seating was built. In the 2nd Century AD Herodotus Atticus - the builder of the Odeon theatre at the Acropolis - constructed the precursor to this particular stadium completely out of white marble. Using the same white Pentelic marble of which the Parthenon was built the new stadium seated 50,000. Gladiator fights were apparently held here in addition to athletic competitions. After the collapse of the Roman Empire the stadium fell into ruin, was grown over, and even became a field of wheat. Stadium marble was repurposed for local construction, similar to what happened to the marble of the Colosseum in Rome. In the late 19th Century the stadium was rebuilt for the start of modern Olympic Games, the first of which was held in 1896 here in Athens. Once again using white Pentelic marble the stadium was expanded to seat 80,000. Two special seats were created for the King George I and Queen Olga of Greece; you can find these seats at the lowest level on the right side when facing the curved end of the stadium. It is a U-shaped stadium, not a complete oval. At 200 meters in length it is not of regulation proportions for current athletic games. It was rehabbed for the 2004 Olympic Games and hosted the archery events and was the finishing line for the marathon. It continues to be the finish line for the Athens marathon. Be sure to check out the small museum displaying the posters of all the modern Olympics as well as the official torches used to carry the Olympic flame. The Olympic flame is lit at the Temple of Hera in Olympia and a relay carries it around Greece. The final stop in Greece is the Panathenaic Stadium where the flame is transferred to the runners of that year’s host city. The track features a comfortable black rubber surface. The rubber track may have been 21st Century in origin but the stadium features a drainage design from 19th Century, a critical design feature as the stadium would have to handle the drainage of rainfall pouring off the 2 hills into the valley. In addition to a drain surrounding the athletic field the drainage was facilitated by having the track raised 30 cm above the surrounding ground level. From the U-end of the stadium we had a good view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.…
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Date of experience: March 2020
2 Helpful votes
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Yet another gem that Athens has to offer. We only viewed from the outside, though we could have gone in, but the views from the street are great. Worth a visit on an Athens day trip.
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Date of experience: February 2020
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It was a perfect time to visit, as the sun began to set and in low season. With so few other visitors we were able to wander throughout and marvel at the accomplishment of its building. It was fascinating to discover that it is unique in being the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble. A cogent history abounds. It being the location of the ancient Games in honour of Athena, through its nadir while hosting Roman gladiatorial spectacles, to the marvellous rebirth for the first Modern Olympics in 1896. An atmospheric tunnel walk with beautiful stone and enhancing lighting leads to another grand area of the terrific enterprise.…
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Date of experience: March 2020
3 Helpful votes
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We did a couple of laps of the stadium, one around the top row of seats and then jogging a lap, could have done some races but didn’t fancy my chances against son.,
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Date of experience: October 2020
2 Helpful votes
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