The 5th century BC marked the beginning of the Classical period of ancient Greece and the height of Olympia’s popularity. The Greek city-states, victorious after the recent Persian wars, used the sanctuary to celebrate their united defeat of the Persians.

The site’s archaeology is full of material evidence of this Panhellenic sentiment — with specially crafted statues, sculptures and trophies from the war dedicated to Zeus and the Greek victory at Olympia. However, some dedications show that rivalry between the city-states was still alive and well despite the heightened sense of unity.

Ancient Greek Unity, the Greek Olympic Games and the End of the Persian Wars

The end of the Persian Wars left the Greek city-states with a sense of collective Greekness, and this sentiment was commemorated at Olympia in various ways. The Olympic Games of 476BC — the first since the defeat of the Persians — became an occasion to celebrate the victory. No other incident of the games represents this more clearly than when Themistocles, victor of the battle of Salamis, was cheered by Greeks of every state.

Finds dating to this period show that many trophies of the war were dedicated at Olympia, showing that not only the games but also the sanctuary had achieved Panhellenic significance. One example is an Athenian dedication of an Assyrian helmet held in the Olympia museum today.

Other finds show that some votive offerings commemorating the victory were specially made. To commemorate the Battle of Plataea, a colossal bronze statue of Zeus was dedicated by all the participating states — with Sparta first and Athens second on the role of honour.

The temple of Zeus itself was started in 470BC and incorporated iconography in the mythical scenes of its pediments that underlines the righteousness of the Greek victory. The scenes of Lapiths defeating centaurs and the triumph of Pelops, the founder of the Peloponnese, emphasise how the worthy always defeat the unworthy barbarians.

Classical Art and Panhellenic Rivalry 

The site of Olympia in this period was covered with bronze and stone statues of victors of the games and other examples of classical sculpture. Unfortunately, only fragments survive today, including sculptures from the temple of Zeus and a terracotta head of Athena.

Some examples of Greek art show that unity was not the only sentiment celebrated at Olympia. The Nike of Paionis, which adorned the temple of Zeus, was dedicated by the Messenians and Naupactians in 421BC in thanksgiving for their victory over the Spartans in the Archidaemean war.

Rivalry and brotherhood were celebrated equally at Olympia.

Resources

Hornblower, S and Spawforth, A (eds) The Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press

Gates, C, (2003) Ancient Cities: The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome. Routledge: London and New York

Yalouris, A & N, (1995) Olympia: Guide to the Museum and the Sanctuary. Ekdotike Athenon s.a: Athens

Photinos, S, (1983) Olympia: The Complete Guide. Athens: Olympic Publications