Olympia, Athens, Greece
We learn by practice . . . One becomes in some area an athlete of God.
—Martha Graham (1894–1991), American ballerina and choreographer
The Temple of Hera in Olympia, one of the earliest Greek temples with Doric columns, honored both Hera and Zeus (wife and husband supreme deities) until the Great Temple of Zeus was completed, after which only women worshipped at Hera’s temple. Today, the temple is the site where eleven women (representing the Vestal Virgins) ignite the Olympic Torch with the sun’s rays, in a ceremony that signals the opening of the Olympic Games. The games are a testament of athletic excellence as well as of respect and cooperation among athletes and countries of the world.
If you seek the focus and dedication of an Olympic athlete in your spiritual life or in your personal relationships, visit the Temple of Hera. From Athens International Airport, travel by bus or train to Olympia.
Energize your body and your spirit with a devotional walk amid the sacred ruins of ancient Olympia. At Hera’s temple, pause to absorb the heartfelt energy that ancient athletes poured out in prayer and supplication to the deity.
The Temple of Hera (ca. 590 B.C.) was among several temples as well as altars, statues, treasuries, and other structures in the Altis (sanctuary, or sacred precinct) of Olympia. The Altis originally included the Olympic Stadium, where people watched the competitions from the Hill of Kronos, but the arena was gradually moved east to its present location.