GREECE PELOPONNESE ELEIA ELIS

Ancient Elis, the city of the Olympic Games, lies some 12 km East of Gastouni. Worthwhile to visit not only because of its theatre but also because of other architectural remains scattered in the area. The excavations of 1910-14 by the Austrian Archaeological institute and Greek archaeologists were resumed and are continuing until today - the site keeping to change its appearance.

The site of the present theatre (below) was a cemetery from the Early Bronze Age (early 3rd millenium BC) until the Submycenaean period (around 1100 BC) and inhabited in Geometric times (8th century BC). In the late 4th century BC, the theatre was then built at this location, where the natural slope could be exploited for the cavea. Reinforced with strong retaining walls, the earth cavea (now covered with pebbles) could accomodate some 8000 spectators. Inside the theatre, indications to the worship of Dionysos were found. This is not amazing since Dionysos is usually associated with theatre, but the Eleians especially honoured this god, to whom they also dedicated a temple and an annual festival.

Inhabited since Early Helladic (3rd millenium BC), Elis was ruled by nobilities who managed to extend their power to Pisa, the mysterious city initially guarding the Olympic Games. In 570 BC, the Eleians destroyed Pisa and henceforth controlled Olympia. It was here in Elis that the athletes trained before they participated in the Olympics. By decree, all prospective competitors and their companions were obliged to reside not less than one month in Elis in order to exercise in the city's facilities and to be briefed about the rules of the Olympic Games. The city prospered in the following centuries, reaching its peak in the Roman period. In the 2nd century AD, Pausanias saw a densely populated flourishing settlement.