If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 541

 

 

 

 

 

Panathenaic Stadium, Athens, Greece

 

This week’s postcard is another one shared by K & J and has a photograph of the Stadium in Athens, Greece.  The card was printed in Greece, no photographer is credited. 

 

The stadium is located in a natural ravine in what is today the central Athens district of Pangrati.  Until the 1950s the Ilissos River ran in front of the stadium entrance but today the river flows underneath.  The multi-use stadium was built around 330 BC by the Athenian statesman Lykourgos/Lycurgus on a site that had previously been a simple racecourse.  It was built primarily for the Panathenaic Games that were held every four years in Athens.  The Games involved athletic competitions, cultural events, a religious festival, and a prize-giving ceremony.  There were cultural events that included poetry and musical competitions and equestrian events like chariot races, horse races, and a javelin throw from horseback.  Athletes competed in wrestling, boxing, an ancient form of martial arts called pankration, and foot races.   Because there were so many different events the games lasted about one week.  A 4^th century marble block was discovered to contain a program of events and the individuals and prizes inscribed on it.  In 144 AD the stadium was rebuilt by Herodes Atticus and could seat 50,000 spectators.  It is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and is one of the main historical attractions of Athens.  For something that is so old to look extremely modern with not many changes or updating, it is truly amazing.

 

After the rise of Christianity in the 4^th century the games were discontinued and the stadium fell into disuse and finally ruin.  The site was excavated in 1869 and was used to host the Zappas Olympics in 1870 and 1875.  The stadium was refurbished and used for the first modern Olympics in 1896 as the venue for 4 of the 9 contested sports.  In 2004 it was once again used as an Olympic venue.  The Athens Classic Marathon race finishes at the stadium.  It is also the place where the Olympic flame handover ceremony to the host nation takes place.

 

It was kind of fun to share this card today since this is the first day of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games being held in Beijing, China.

 

Thanks again to J & K for sharing the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panathenaic_Stadium

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panathenaic_Games