Olympia was an ancient Greek city in Elis, famous for the Olympic Games which were held in the city during the Classical period and were of comparable importance with the Pythian Games held at Delphi. At the sanctuary of Olympia the chryselephantine statue of Zeus was erected, a giant seated figure made by the Greek sculptor Phidias and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The first Olympic Games are dated to 776 BC. They were held every four years until the emperor Theodosius I abolished them because of they were considered paganistic.