Ilida (© Road Publications)

In antiquity, Ilida or Ilis, 35 km north of Olympia and south of the river Penaeus, apart from being a centre of important political developments for Ancient Greece, it was also the organiser of the Olympic Games. The region has been inhabited since the Protohellenic (Neolithic) era in 2800-2000 B.C., but it was after the 7^th century B.C. that the city blossomed because of the Olympic Games, while the region of Ilida was declared a sanctuary.

Athletes from all over Greece arrived at Ilida one month before the Games, in order to prepare for the sports. They were accompanied by their relatives and/or famous foreigners, a fact that gave prestige to the city; the city itself was shaped around the Games and there were few buildings for the public life of the city. Pausanias reports that there were three high schools, a ring and only a few other buildings. When Ilida thrived, it was one of the most populous cities of the Peloponnese, occupying an area of 1500 acres of the western Peloponnese.

The archaeological site of Ancient Ilida viewed from the Acropolis	A street of the city of Ancient Ilida

When the Romans came, they constructed many buildings in this rich city, which continued to thrive, but it lost some of its splendour. The Herulians in 267 A.D., during their raids, destroyed both Ilida and Olympia, and after the discontinuation of the Olympic Games in 393 A.D., the city progressively sank into obscurity. During the first years of Christian era, only a small part of the city was inhabited.

The extensive archaeological site of Ilida was systematically excavated during the first decade of the 20^th century and the web of the city was revealed, along with many archaeological discoveries which are exhibited in the museum. 

A big theatre dating back to the 4^th century, dominated the north-western side of city, with an idyllic view over the Penaeus River. The theatre has its cavea embanked, two supporting walls at its sides and a skené (stage) made of stone. The diameter of the orchestra is 25 m., while the skené and the back stages cover an area of 500 m². The cavea is separated in seven rows and in six flights of stone steps.

The museum of Ilida	Ruins of city buildings

The theatre of Ancient Ilida	The flight of stone steps, the rows of seats and part of the stage.

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