Qld Friends of the AAIA - Olympia: Competing and Feasting in the Sanctuary of Zeus Recent excavations and research of the German Archaeological Institute
The sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia was a place of veneration of the Greek pantheon, and particularly its supreme god, throughout the year. The ‘Olympic’ athletic games held
here every four years, however, made it for centuries a Panhellenic meeting place, where the whole Greek world came together. In the tradition of Heracles, who was said to
have rested and dined at Olympia with his companions after one of his Labours, the visitors of the games participated in major sacrifices and feasting during their stay, which have left their traces in various types of installations, and numerous objects found during the excavations.
Moreover, the sanctuary became a unique stage for the exhibition of personal success, not only in sport but also in military and political achievements, which were exhibited in expensive votive dedications and monuments, some of which have recently been restored to provide the visitor with a better understanding of the sanctuary´s former wealth. This contributes to a constantly developing picture of Olympia’s infrastructure, maintenance and the cultic practices conducted within it.
Professor Reinhard Senff is the recently retired Director of the Ancient Olympia Excavations (2005-2022), and Second Director of the German Archaeological Institute at Athens. He brings with him to Australia as Australian Archaeological institute at Athens Gale Visiting Professor a wealth of experience working at Olympia, one of the foremost ancient Greek sanctuaries, from where the modern Olympic movement took its inspiration.
For 12.30 Lunch bookings after the Sunday Public Lecture on September 3, please contact the Qld Friends of the AAIA in advance on qfaaia@yahoo.com.au
to arrange payment.
About Classics and Ancient History Seminars
The seminars of UQ's Discipline of Classics and Ancient History are held on Fridays at 4 pm.
Their format is in person and live on online.
The physical venue for all seminars is room E302 of the historic Forgan-Smith Building (building no. 1) on UQ's St Lucia campus in Brisbane.
For the online link please contact the seminar convenor Associate Professor David M. Pritchard (d.pritchard@uq.edu.au).
Seminars 2-3 and 6-7 will be recorded for subsequent publication as open-access podcasts.
Professor Maria Wyke (Seminar 2) is the 2026 Visiting Professor of UQ's Centre for Western Civilisation.
Dr Roslyne Bell comes to Brisbane as a guest of UQ's Friends of Antiquity. She will be delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Ancient History Day on Saturday 21 March.
