2018-07-15
【Aiden in English】
Olympia, Greece. A grand, majestic name as a center for the worship of Zeus in the 10th Century B.C. Right next to Athens and Pompeii, its appearance only grants half the fame. The legends, the history, and the secrets behind the name lend substance. It's also why everyone on board seems to be taking a tour of Ancient Olympia along the River Kladeos in the Peloponnese. So, what is Olympia? The best description would be a mix of the stones of Athens and the layout of Pompeii. It's got the architecture of an ancient Greek city, with iconic symmetrical styles in harmony. Compared to Pompeii, it's in ruins, and I thought they looked alike. Olympia consisted of Hera and Zeus' Temples, the Altis of the sanctuary to the gods, the stadium, and multiple areas for contestants to prep and wash. More stunningly, the Temple of Zeus is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, where the gold and ivory statue of the Olympian Zeus was housed. Like the other two, it was famous for being unbelievable and otherworldly. I did feel that way about Athens, but not so much about Olympia. While I enjoyed walking around, including standing on the starting line of the marble blocks after nearly 1,500 years, the area paled in comparison to the other two historic Titans. Like Pompeii, Olympia was hit by a natural disaster in the form of an earthquake. With minimal structures remaining, Olympia seemed as if a child had gone through the city of Legos and knocked everything to pieces. Most Roman bricks and Greek stones were scattered in piles, and I don't think any survived structures that stood above five feet in height. However, I suppose this place makes up for its history. It has a deep-rooted history of popularity, dating back to 776 BC, when the first Olympic Games were held, hence the name. In the Archaeological Museum, we can trace parts of the pediment from the Temple of Zeus, including scenes that commemorate Pelops' chariot race and illustrate the mythical war between the Centaurs and the Lapiths. With no surprise, the figures of the Hermes of Praxiteles and the Winged Victory or Nike of Panionios were inscribed on all the 2004 Olympic medals. In addition, a "Miltiades" helmet once belonged to the commander whose forces defeated the Persians of Darius I at Marathon. While the Olympic Games have captured the world for almost three thousand years, it all began in a small oval stadium in the middle of nowhere. Ironically, its popularity is also its downfall, with no country wanting to spend the money on hosting. Overall, I would have to say Olympia was alright, simply because its rivals were too stunning. Olympia felt like the middle sister, neither the best nor the cutest. So, it sits in the forest, slowly decaying and crumbling to nature. It also has a problem with people stealing rocks. When you need a sign to say, "Don't steal our rocks," you know you're in deep desperation. After a shopping session and lunch, we ended the trip on another day. Apart from the ruins in Olympia, the area had little to offer in terms of attractions. Most items of interest were museums related to the Olympics, so we visited the Ancient Olympic Games Museum to see some ancient artifacts. However, Olympia does not resemble Athens or Pompeii; its history may be more prosperous and enchanting in the realm of sports. The amount of information the guide threw at us felt like an entire unit of social studies, from punishment for rule violations to the winner's prize. It's odd because so many people come for the history, not just the view. I definitely wouldn't have associated such ga great history with a place like Olympia, but thanks to records and the current Olympics, millions flock to this area. Virtual reconstruction offers tourists a realistic representation of the original model. Standing in history always gives the feeling of being overwhelmed. The same marble starting line marked thousands of Olympic racers beforehand and has my mark on it (It might be the best-preserved item in the entire area). But I breathe in this overwhelmed feeling and savor it. You cannot often stand on the first Olympic racetrack. 【紅霞譯】
希臘奧林匹亞可謂公元前10世紀大名鼎鼎被視作敬拜宙斯“眾神之王”的聖地，緊鄰雅典“不朽”和龐貝“第五”古城，地理位置固然得天獨厚，但其神話傳說、歷史文化以及背後鮮為人知的東西讓它留芳百世，這也是為什麼船上所有人似乎都朝着伯羅奔尼撒“黑臉”半島克勒得斯“江神”河畔進發。
奧林匹亞究竟是何方神聖？恰當地說，它將雅典的石頭建築和龐貝的布局規劃融於一體，再現了古希臘城建特色，彰顯標誌性對稱和諧。與龐貝相比，奧林匹亞無異於廢墟遺址，依我看兩者在這方面沒有任何區別，它曾由赫拉“眾神王后”神殿、宙斯“眾神之王”神殿、阿爾蒂斯“宙斯的聖林”神殿、摔跤體育場以及供運動員更衣盥洗等若干聖域組成，引人注目的宙斯神殿有一尊用黃金象牙打造的奧林匹亞宙斯神像，被譽為古代世界七大奇觀之一。猶如上述兩座古城，奧林匹亞備受世人青睞，我認為雅典確實受之無愧，而奧林匹亞則稍有遜色。漫步殘垣斷壁之間令我悠然自得，包括站在年近1,500歲的大理石起跑線上，正是腳下這方寸土得以讓奧林匹亞功成名就，與雅典、龐貝兩大元老平分秋色。不獨有偶，奧林匹亞同樣慘遭龐貝式地震災害，倖存的建築寥寥無幾，如今好似孩童玩後留下的樂高積木，所有部件被拆得零零碎碎，大多數羅馬磚瓦希臘石塊成堆擱置一旁，殘留的運動場館不足5英尺/1.5米之高。
毋容置疑，這個地方歷史底蘊深厚，自公元前776年舉辦首屆奧林匹克運動會即日起便廣為人知，奧林匹亞古城因此而得名。在當地考古博物館，宙斯神廟部分山角牆、慶祝佩洛普“黑臉”戰車獲勝的場景、半人馬和拉庇泰人“傳奇民族”之間的神妙戰爭等等引導我們重溫過去。毫不奇怪地，大理石雕作品普拉克西特列斯“完成者”《赫爾墨斯“眾神信使”》和帕奧尼奧斯《雙翼勝利女神》都被刻在2004年奧運會獎牌上。此外，館內還收藏了米爾提亞德斯“紅土”統帥的頭盔，當年他帶領希臘人在馬拉松戰役中打敗大流士一世麾下波斯“分隔之地”軍隊。奧林匹克運動會已有將近3,000年歷史，而一切竟從前不靠村後不着店的小橢圓形田徑場開始，具有諷刺意味地，它越來越不受待見，沒有國家想要斥巨資舉辦奧運會。
總的來說奧林匹亞不錯，何況其參照對象個個出類拔萃，它夾在兩座姐妹古城中間，既不最聰明也不超可愛，只好置身於茫茫林海，慢慢地衰老死去，漸漸地回歸自然。偷取石頭可謂另一棘手問題，但凡出現 “切勿私拿石頭”這樣的告示，說明你已處於絕望狀態。
購完物吃罷午飯，我們又參觀了當地一家博物館。除了奧林匹亞遺址外，其它場所能看多少看多少。實際上，博物館裡有趣的東西都跟奧林匹克運動相關，因此古代奧林匹克運動博物館向來訪者展示的無外乎舊時文物。儘管與雅典或龐貝迥然有別，但奧林匹亞在運動史方面更具特色，導遊向我們灌輸了大量信息，仿佛又把我帶入學校開設的社會學課堂上來，從懲罰違規者到獎賞優勝者，概括得面面俱到，竟然有很多遊客不光為了大飽眼福，而且還想了解歷史，當然學習歷史未必非要到奧林匹亞，基於奧運紀錄及比賽現況，數以百萬的遊客湧向這一地區，虛擬重建圖像技術讓遊客見識到古代建築原貌。 與歷史交會總是令人心潮澎湃，過去成百上千名奧運選手曾在大理石起跑線上各就各位，如今我也留下足跡(也許是整個地區最佳寶物)，不過我要把這份真情雋永收藏在心好生品味，站在第一屆奧運會跑道上可不是輕而易舉的事情。 Today in History(歷史上的今天):
2018: Katakolon, Traditional Dishes GRC(希臘卡特克隆港·傳統菜餚) 2018: Olympia, the Promised Land GRC(希臘奧林匹亞“眾神之山”·恩許之地) 2017: Haarlem, the Flower City in Netherlands(荷蘭哈勒姆·花城禮讚)
2017: Haarlem the Master of Darkness NLD(荷蘭哈勒姆·黑色聖地) 2014: 2014 First Fall Soccer Practice(2014年首次秋季足球訓練) 2012: 煙囪雨燕駐我家(Chimney Swift)  Philippeion, the Only Structure Inside the Altis Dedicated to Human
(腓力“愛馬仕”神廟──唯一獻給人類的神廟 07-15-2018) 
The Base of Nike of Paeonios (勝利女神雕像基座 07-15-2018)  The Building of Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II
(托勒密“好戰”二世和阿爾西諾“高尚思想”二世建築 07-15-2018) 
Doric Column (多立克柱 07-15-2018)  Hera's Altar (赫拉祭壇 07-15-2018)
 Temple of Hera, the site where the Olympic flame is lit for the Summer and Winter Olympics
(赫拉神殿·夏季奧運會和冬季奧運會聖火點燃地點 07-15-2018)  Gymnasion Ruins Serving as a Training Facility for Athletes Preparing for Public Games, Like the Olympic Games
(體育館遺址·為備戰奧運會等公共運動會的運動員提供訓練設施 07-15-2018)  Kronion Thermae (浴場 07-15-2018)
 Pelopion, the Sacred Enclosure or Sanctuary of Pelops
(珀羅普翁“黑臉”神話人物·宗教祭祀場所 07-15-2018)
 Theokoleon, the Seat of the Theokoloi, the Priests of Olympia
(祭司神廟·奧林匹克祭司所在地 07-15-2018)
 Crypt (Arched Way to the Stadium)
(拱頂──通往體育場的拱形路 07-15-2018)  Field Track of Olympia Stadium
(奧林匹亞體育場·田徑場 07-15-2018) 
Starting Line of Olympia Stadium (奧林匹亞體育場·起跑線 07-15-2018)  Palaestra Monument in the 3rd Century
(公元3世紀摔跤紀念碑 07-15-2018)  Palaestra Monument in the 3rd Century
(公元3世紀摔跤紀念碑 07-15-2018) 
Temple of Zeus (天神廟 07-15-2018)  Ancient Olympia Museum (古奧林匹亞博物館 07-15-2018)
 Statue of A Bull from the Nymphaeum of Herodes Atticus
(來自阿提卡城“雅典城及其周邊地區”神廟的公牛雕像 07-15-2018)
 The Centauromachy, a Battle Between the Barbarous Centaurs & the Civilized Lapiths @ the Wedding of Pirithous & Hippodamia
(半人馬之戰·野蠻的半人馬與文明的拉皮泰人之間的戰爭，皮里托斯“忒修斯的朋友”與希波達米亞“馴馬女師”的婚禮)
 East Pediment of the Temple of Zeus
(天神廟東山牆飾 07-15-2018) 
Nike of Paeonius (佩奧尼烏斯《勝利女神》 07-15-2018) 
Hermes of Praxitelis (普拉克西特列斯《赫爾墨斯》07-15-2018)  Dinner (晚餐 07-15-2018)
Crosslinks(相關博文): 2015: Greek Mythology in Athens(希臘雅典的神話故事) 2015: Archaeological Site of Pompeii, Italy(意大利龐貝古城) Greece(出遊希臘)
Europe(歐洲掠影) 9th Grade(高中一年級) | 
