With its serried rows of white Pentelic marble seats – enough for 70,000 spectators – built into Ardettos Hill, this ancient-turned-modern stadium is a draw both for lovers of classical architecture and sports fans imagining the roar of the crowds from millennia past.
Built in the 4th century BCE and restored for the first modern Olympic games in 1896, it was first used as a venue for the Panathenaic athletic contests. It's said that at Hadrian's inauguration in 120 CE, a thousand wild animals were sacrificed in the arena. Later, the seats were rebuilt in marble by Herodes Atticus.
In 1895, after centuries of disuse, the stadium was restored by wealthy Greek benefactor Georgios Averof – you can see his portrait carved in marble to the right of the entrance. The running track and field is not modern Olympic-size, so the stadium was used only for archery and the marathon finish in the 2004 games. Now it's occasionally used for concerts and public events.
A ticket gets you an audio tour, admission to a tiny exhibit on the modern Olympics (mainly eye-candy games posters) and the opportunity to take your photo on a winners' pedestal.
