Ancient Greek Stadiums: Design, History, and Olympic Legacy

The word stadium derives from the Greek word stadion, meaning a unit of measurement ranging from 580 to 630 for foot races. The simplest plan had the stadium on level ground in a rectangular shape or a race course with a semicircular end or sling on the opposite side of the starting point. Races would begin at the starting point, which was called the line or discharge. The best type of stadium was located on a level field between two hills that could provide seating for the spectators. If two hills were not available stadiums could use one hill and an artificial stand or even two artificial stands, but these would be expensive.

Ruins of a stadium at Delphi

Often the seats would range from simple wood to marble. In a full-fledged stadium, the seats were arranged in a wedge formation with tiers and a corridor at the top, often covered with a portico. At the lower level were marble seats with a drainage system to allow rainwater to be moved away from the stadium and seats. About halfway up on the long sides or length of the stadium were seats for judges and officials, usually made of marble, and at the top were wooden seats.

Examples of ancient stadiums include those in Athens, Olympia, Delphi, and Epidaurus. In Athens, the stadium was located between the Ardhettos and Agra hills. Initially before the fourth century, seating was with natural ground, with the seating replaced with limestone benches by Lykourgos, an Athenian statesman. In the fifth century, the stadium at Delphi was constructed for one of the Panhellenic games. It was built north of the sanctuary and west of the theater. The northern side of the stadium was built on the side of Mount Parnassus, while the southern side had an artificial structure. The eastern side was the entrance, while the western edge had the curved sling. Later additions included a monumental entrance constructed during the Roman period. This is one of the best stadiums surviving in the Greek world.

The stadium at Epidaurus lay outside the sanctuary, in a natural dip before the theater. The fifth-century edifice took a rectangular form similar to many of the early stadiums. The first five seats were excavated into natural rock. Stone seats were then added, which could be accessed by stairs. The athletes participating in the sports or games arrived through a corridor from the sacred sanctuary. The stadium’s length was 600 feet and its width was 75 feet. The lengthwise distance, 600 feet , was divided into separate 100-foot sections for shorter races.

Perhaps the most famous stadium was at Olympia. It was rectangular, attesting to its early construction. The stadium was on the south side of a hill, while the other three sides were made of artificial hills. The Olympic Games were held every four years. The judges sat on the south side opposite the natural hill in the middle of the stadium. It could initially hold 20,000 viewers and was later expanded to hold 45,000 people. The stadium became an important structure not only for athletic competition, but as a symbol of a city’s wealth and power.