en extremely impressive in its time, with monumental buildings and outside sports arenas showing the political power of the Greeks as well as their aesthetic sensibilities.
The building called Pheidias' Workshop was used by the sculptor for the creation of the gold and ivory statue of Zeus that marked the site. The ancient sports complex served as the lactation for the games. The stadium did not exist in the early years but was built around 350 BC, by which time the games were fully established. Zeus had originally been glorified in the games for granting powers of strength and physical endurance to the athletes, but now the athletes were becoming professional and were achieving the level of cult figures themselves. The stadium was thus removed from the sacred area and set apart. The track was of level clay lightly covered with sand. A platform at the southern edge of the course served as
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