About this sheet
Original antique engraved plan of ancient Olympia in Greece, showing the sanctuary and athletic complex associated with the ancient Olympic Games.
Titled “Essai sur la Topographie d’Olympie,” the plan was prepared from accounts by ancient authors for the atlas accompanying Jean-Jacques Barthélemy’s Voyage du jeune Anacharsis en Grèce.
The engraving provides a fascinating reconstruction of Olympia and identifies many of the principal buildings and monuments of the ancient sanctuary. Particularly prominent are the Stadium and Hippodrome, illustrating the spaces used for athletic and equestrian competitions during the Olympic Games.
The sacred Altis is shown in considerable detail and includes the Temple of Jupiter (Zeus), Temple of Juno (Hera), Prytaneum, theater and numerous other religious monuments, altars and structures. The sacred grove and surrounding landscape are represented with individually engraved trees.
The River Alpheus runs prominently across the lower part of the map, while roads, terraces and surrounding topographical features place the sanctuary within its wider landscape.
Ancient Olympia was one of the most important religious and athletic centers of the Greek world. The Olympic Games were traditionally founded there in 776 BC and held in honor of Zeus, attracting competitors and visitors from throughout the Greek world.
A particularly interesting historical plan for collectors interested in ancient Greece, Olympia, classical archaeology and the history of the Olympic Games.
Creator / Engraver: Ambroise Tardieu
Title: Essai sur la Topographie d’Olympie
Publication: Paris
Plate: Pl. 29
Subject: Ancient Olympia and the Olympic Games, Greece
Condition:
Good antique condition with general age toning, scattered foxing and occasional small stains and marks. Some discoloration is visible in the margins and along the sheet edges. The engraved image remains strong, clear and highly detailed. Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition description.
Original antique map. Not a modern reproduction.
Sold unframed. Any framed or interior images shown are for presentation and inspiration only.
