Stadium of Herodus Atticus from above

Abstract

View of the stadium, with its unique semicircular sphendone on the far side. The stadium dates from the 5th century BCE, but it was heavily renovated in the 2nd century CE by Roman aristocrat Herodus Atticus.

Description

View of the stadium from above. It dates from the 5th century BCE, but was heavily renovated by Roman aristocrat Herodus Atticus in the 2nd century CE. The level field of the stadium is built into a steep slope, requiring the north side to be carved from the rock and the south side to be supported by a stone terrace. It is about 177 meters long, equivalent to 600 Roman feet. Inscriptions tell us that in addition to the 'gymnastics,' what we call track and field sports today, there were sometimes musical events as well. This is the best preserved stadium in Greece, and differs from its natural peers in Epidauros (DM) and Olympia (DI) in the curved sphendone on the west end.

Image Notes

Creation date unknown. Photograph processed July 1978. Notes written on the slide or index: Stadium (total length=200 meters).

Identifier DH.060
Collection DH: Delphi
Location Delfoi, Greece
Year 1978
Batch Stamp JUL 78
Printed Date July, 1978
Slide Notes Stadium (total length=200 meters)
Index Notes Stadium (length 200m.)
General Location Stadium of Herodus Atticus at Delphi
Camera Location Stadium at Delphi from NE
Precision Estimated
Angle 220 degrees SW