Last updated on December 18, 2023.

Panathenaic Stadium (Παναθηναϊκό Στάδιο) is a reconstructed ancient stadium in Athens, Greece. It was used in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and is the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble.

Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Panathenaic Stadium

 

Visiting the Panathenaic Stadium

Admission is €10 (as of July 2023) and includes an audio guide, full access to the stadium and small museum, and a chance to run on the track. Panathenaic Stadium is much bigger than I expected and well worth a visit.

Panathenaic Stadium
Track

 

History of the Panathenaic Stadium

Also known as Kallimarmaro (Καλλιμάρμαρο), Panathenaic Stadium was originally built under Lycurgus (c. 390 – 324 BC) for the Panathenaic Games. Deinias donated his private land between the Agra and Ardettos hills for the stadium and construction started in 338 BC. It was completed in time for the Great Panathenaea in 330 BC. The track was 204 meters (669 feet) long and 34 meters (110 feet) wide. The Ilissos River once ran in front of the entrance.

Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Panathenaic Stadium

Panathenaic Stadium was gloriously restored between 139 and 144 by Roman senator and prominent Athenian Herodes Atticus (101-177). He added a sphendone, giving the stadium its horseshoe shape, and rows of seating made of white Pentelic marble. After the reconstruction it was able to hold 50,000 spectators. Herodes Atticus’ tomb was also built on the hilltop to the left of the entrance. Athenians were very proud of their stadium, which was unrivaled in the ancient world.

Looking towards the sphendone
Sphendone
Seating

Athletic games and Roman gladiatorial duels were forbidden in the 4th century due to the rise of Christianity, and Panathenaic Stadium fell into disuse. It was abandoned and plundered for its marble and was gradually covered by a field of wheat.

Looking towards the entrance

 

Reconstruction and Olympic Revival

Panathenaic Stadium was excavated by German architect Ernst Ziller (1837-1923) in 1869, as part of an Olympic revival started by Greek businessman Evangelis Zappas (1800-1865). It held the Zappas Olympics in 1870 and 1875.

Panathenaic Stadium

During the first Olympic Congress in Paris in 1894, Athens was chosen to host the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Greek businessman Georgios Averof (1815-1899), who was based in Alexandria, Egypt, donated the funds to reconstruct the stadium at the request of Crown Prince Constantine. A statue of Averof, sculpted by Georgios Vroutos (1843-1909) and unveiled on April 5, 1896, stands to the right of the entrance.

Statue of Georgios Averof outside Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Statue of Georgios Averof
Statue of Georgios Averof

Greek architect Anastasios Metaxas (1862-1937) prepared the reconstruction plans and the stadium was completed in time for the games. The marble used in the reconstruction is as close as possible to the degree of the marble of the ancient stadium. The capacity at that time was 80,000, but it’s now down to a modest 45,000.

Greek and Olympic flags at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Greek and Olympic flags
Greek and Olympic flags

Panathenaic Stadium held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1896 Olympics and served as the venue for athletics, gymnastics, weightlifting, and wrestling. The most famous event was the marathon, won by a poor Greek water carrier named Spyros Louis (1873-1940). He became a national hero.

List of Olympic Games (left and center) and presidents of the International Olympic Committee (right)

The Olympic Anthem was first heard at the stadium on April 6, 1896. It was performed by nine philharmonic orchestras and 250 singers, with lyrics by Greek poet Kostis Palamas (1859-1943) and music by Greek composer Spyros Samaras (1861-1917).

Commemoration for the 1896 Olympics (left) and a history of Panathenaic Stadium (right)

 

Post-Olympic Events at the Panathenaic Stadium

After the 1896 Olympics, Panathenaic Stadium hosted the 1906 Intercalated Games. During the Greek Junta of 1967 to 1974, it held festivals glorifying the right-wing military dictatorship. It has also hosted memorable concerts and other important sporting events.

Aisle along the track

From the mid to late 1960s, it was used by AEK Basketball Club. On April 4, 1968, the 1967–68 FIBA European Cup Winners’ Cup final took place in the stadium. AEK defeated Slavia VŠ Praha (now USK Praha) in front of around 80,000 seated spectators inside and 40,000 standing spectators. It’s believed that Panathenaic Stadium holds the world record attendance for any basketball game.

Stairs at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Stairs

Panathenaic Stadium was used in the 2004 Summer Olympics as the finish for both the men’s and women’s marathons. It was also the venue for archery competitions.

Seats at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Seats

 

Stadium Features

There are some interesting features to look out for on your visit to Panathenaic Stadium.

 

Royal Boxes

First are the royal boxes used at the 1896 Olympics. They’re located at the sphendome.

Royal boxes at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Royal boxes
Royal boxes at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Royal boxes

 

Hermae

Next are the two double-sided hermae on the track in front of the sphendome. They were commissioned by Herodes Atticus for the 2nd century renovations and found during excavations by Ernst Ziller in 1869.

Hermae
West herm at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
West herm
East herm

Both hermae portray a young man on one side and a bearded older man on the other side. They’re believed to depict Hermes and Hercules, or possibly an athlete and his trainer. The hermae wore wreaths during the 1896 Olympics.

Old face of the west herm at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Old face of the west herm
Young face of the west herm
Old face of the east herm
Young face of the east herm

 

Ancient Parapet Slabs

At the gate in front of the tunnel are marble parapet slabs original to the ancient stadium.

Ancient parapet slabs

 

Vaulted Tunnel

Finally, on the east end of the stadium is a vaulted tunnel. After the stadium was already in ruins, European travelers witnessed young Athenian maidens at the tunnel performing rituals aimed at finding a good husband. Today, it leads to a small museum.

Vaulted tunnel at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Vaulted tunnel
Vaulted tunnel at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Vaulted tunnel
View from the inside of the vaulted tunnel

 

Panathenaic Stadium Museum

The museum is accessed via the vaulted tunnel. The tunnel runs at a slight incline and curves to the right.

 

Stadium History Exhibit

At the end of the tunnel is a corridor containing photos and information about the history stadium, the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens, and the 1906 Intercalated Games.

End of the tunnel
History of the stadium

 

Olympic Museum

The stairs lead to a building hosting a small museum with Olympic memorabilia and artifacts. There’s also a museum store but it was closed during my visit.

Olympic museum at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Olympic museum
Olympic museum at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Olympic museum

The walls of the museum and stairwell are lined with official posters and torches used at modern Olympic Games. Both summer and winter Olympics are represented.

Poster and torch from the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
Poster and torch from the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics at the Olympic museum at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Poster and torch from the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics
Torch from the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
Posters and torches from the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics (left) and Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics (right) at the Olympic museum at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Posters and torches from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta (left) and 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney (right)
Torches from the Innsbruck 1976 (left), Lake Placid 1980 (center), and Calgary 1988 (right) Winter Olympics

Also on display at the Panathenaic Stadium Museum is the altar from where the High Priestess lights the Olympic Flame for its journey to the Olympic host city. Nearby is one of the 204 petals that made up the cauldron where the Olympic Flame burnt during the London 2012 Olympics. Each petal represented one competing nation.

Altar at the Olympic museum at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece
Altar
Petal from the cauldron at the 2012 London Olympics

 

Map with the Panathenaic Stadium

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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