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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-05-01
CONTENTS
[01] Excavations at Ancient Olympia gymnasium reveal more stoa, but site
faces drainage problems
[01] Excavations at Ancient Olympia gymnasium reveal more stoa, but site
faces drainage problems
ANA-MPA - Another thirty metres of the eastern stoa, or colonnade,
of the gymnasium at Ancient Olympia has been revealed in excavations,
the Central Archaeological Council said, after a meeting that approved
a study to drain rainwater from the site.
According to the culture ministry, the gymnasium is a large quadrangular
building, with central court surrounded by stoas. A series of rooms for
the athletes probably occupied the west wing. The better-studied east
wing consists of a solid outer wall, an internal double Doric colonnade,
and another colonnade of sixty columns along the court.
The colonnade along the court has been excavated to 70 metres; the
recent excavations add 30 to this, while excavators estimate another 80
metres remain to be uncovered, if the project can secure further NSRF
funding. The project has been included in the 2007-20013 NSRF cycle of
funds, which is running out.
Excavators are facing problems from rainwater that used to drain by
running on the road along the huge gymnasium - a complex covering a total
of about 2.2 hectares (22 stremmas) - but now collects at a basin and
floods the site. The report approved by the Council aims at resolving
the issue by diverting the water towards the Kladeos River, nearby.
The surviving remains of the gymnasium - where athletes practiced prior
to the Olympic Games - dates to the 2nd century B.C. Kladeos damaged
parts of it even in antiquity, and has swept away its west wing. The
north section has not been excavated yet.
[File photo from entrance to stadium]
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