Panathenaic Stadium in Athens

Visiting the Olympic arena in Athens and sitting in the marble seats once reserved for royalty, was a special experience where we physically felt part of history.

This site in Athens is the Panathenaic, meaning beautiful marble. This extraordinary venue is the only stadium ever built entirely of marble.

This site was originally laid out in the 4th century BCE as a venue for athletic and cultural competitions held in honor of the goddess of Athena. These games were important events in Athens combining sport, music and poetry. In the 2nd century CE. The stadium was expanded and rebuilt in marble that transformed this arena into a venue that could seat tens of thousands.

These marble seats we sat in were reserved for dignitaries and royalty and they offered a commanding view of the track below.

Over the centuries, the stadium declined. It was in the 19th century that the Panathenaic Stadium was excavated and restored. It played a central role in the Olympic tradition and hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

Today, the Stadium is a living monument that continues to host events. Sitting in those royal seats offers the perspective from which leaders watch athletes test the limits of the human body.