n.
Ancient sanctuary and site of the Olympic Games , northwestern Peloponnese, southern Greece.
Located 10 mi (16 km) inland from the Ionian Sea, it was on the northern bank of the Alpheus River . A centre of Greek religious worship, it held the primarily athletic contests in honour of Zeus every four years, beginning in 776 BC. In the temple of Zeus, built 0441; 460 BC, was the statue of Zeus by Phidias , one of the Seven Wonders of the World . Excavations have uncovered many ruins, including temples and the stadium.