Ilia History
The Prefecture of Ilia  is a region with great mythical, historical and archeological interest, one of the most important places of the ancient Greek civilization. In classical times, this land was the birthplace of the idea of Olympic Games.
Today the archeological site of Olympia is full of history and ancient memories, with its museum and its treasures. Located in a beautiful green valley, crossed by the Alfeios River, it is the destination of pilgrimage for many people from all over the world. It is believed that the area was named after King Ilios, the son of Amphimahos and Hyrmine. During the archaic era most of the region was taken over by Epians who owe their origin to the Achaeans. Ilians took part in the Persian wars, whereas during the Peloponnesian and the Corinthian wars (431-404 B.C. and 395-387 B.C. respectively) they allied with the Spartans. During Macedonian Hellenism, the Ilians were forced by Philip II to be ruled by the Macedonian friendly group of aristocrats. A little while later in 146 B.C. the Roman general Lefkios Mommios conquered Ilia, which then became a part of the Roman Empire. It was granted autonomy in 54-68 B.C. Around the 8th century a number of Slavs settled the region. Later Arabs (881 A.D.), Bulgarians (978 A.D.), Venetians (1125 A.D.) and Normans (1150A.D.) invaded Ilia. However they were all defeated and had to abandon the Peloponnese. During the Venetian occupation (1687-1775 A.D) Ilia suffered devastation and the people were subject to religious pressure by the Latin. In 1775 the Turks took over the Peloponnese, which suffered a lot from their cruelty. Ilians actively participated in the Revolution of 1821 against their conquerors, many becoming distinguished generals. It was finally liberated in 1828 and became part of the free Greek State.
OLYMPIA
Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, is an area of great natural beauty. It has been inhabited uninterruptedly since the 3rd millennium B.C. and in the late Mycenaean period it became a religious centre. According to historic records, the first ancient Olympic games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian Gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia, famous for its magnificent temples of the gods Zeus and Hera. They initially had a religious character and combined a number of ancient sporting events, many of which were based on ancient Greek myths. The sanctuary of Olympia spreads around the green wooded feet of the Kronion hill, where the rivers Alpheios and Cladeos meet. The valley amongst the two rivers was in ancient times full of wild olive trees, poplars, oaks, pines and plane trees and it was these trees that gave the centre of the sanctuary the name Altis, meaning alsos (grove). The Altis is the name given to the area in Olympia that comprises the main religious buildings, temples and votive offerings of the sanctuary. Out of the enclosure were the auxiliary buildings, priests' houses, baths, the areas for the preparation of the athletes, guesthouses along with other buildings. The ancient Games actually occupied an important position in the life of our ancestors. They were held once every four years in the hottest days of the summer. The time in-between two Games was called an Olympiad. In the beginning the games lasted only one day and were comprised only of one event, the running of one Stadium, but gradually more events were added resulting, towards the 5th century B.C., in the games lasting for 5 days. In total the Olympic Games consisted of 10 events: running, the pentathlon, jumping, discus, "ekebolon" javelin, wrestling, boxing, the pancration, chariot racing, and horse racing. During the five days of the festivals, a number of sacrifices were dedicated to the altars of the gods of Olympia, the most magnificent of all being the sacrifice of one hundred cattle in front of Zeus' altar. Participants came to compete from every corner of the Greek world aiming at the ultimate prize: an olive wreath and a "heroic" return to their city-states. But apart from the glorious victory, it was the Olympic values themselves which accorded special meaning to the Games: noble competition and the effort to combine body, will, and mind in a balanced whole. For the better organization of the games common rules and conventions were established. First, all Greeks who had not committed murder or heresy were allowed to participate, except barbarians, women and slaves. Women were even prohibited from watching the games. Secondly, a number of specific rules regulated the training procedures and the performance of the games. But the most important of all was the fact that during the days of the games, all cities had to cease hostilities. The sanctuary of Olympia imposed its authority throughout the Greek world, whereas soon the Olympic Games became the symbol of Panhellenic unity. They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed, in 393 AD, that all such 'pagan cults' be banned. He asserted that the Games placed an excessive public focus on athletic and spiritual affairs and abolished them. Efforts for the revival of the Olympic Games in modern times reached a peak at the end of the 19th century with the instrumental contribution of the French Baron Pierre De Coubertin and the Greek Dimitrios Vikelas. The first contemporary Olympic Games took place with great glamour in 1896 in Athens, in the Panathenaic Stadium. The head quarters of the International Olympic Academy are in Olympia now, along with the altar of the Olympic flame, which is transferred every four years to the city that hosts the Olympic Games. The lighting of the flame takes place at the altar of the Temple of Hera and it is done with the convergence of sunlight onto a metal reflector. This process is part of a ritual combination that includes the prayer and the hymn to Apollo. The high priestess enters the stadium holding the lit torch which she then hands over to the first runner in order for it to start its long journey to the ends of the earth.