Greece is a small country about the size of the state of Pennsylvania. But it was one of the great nations of the ancient world. The center of the civilized world for a number of centuries was in this little land. Small though it was, it defeated the great armies of the Persians, and extended its power along the shores of the Mediterranean (md´ -tr-´ n-n). But it was not by force of arms that Greece conquered the world. It was through its arts that it became best known. Greece was the home of painters, sculptors, philosophers, and lawgivers. Next to the city of Athens, the very center of Greek inspiration was at the place here shown. Here at Olympia were erected temples, stadiums, and other fine structures, to show their love for their religion, athletics, and fine arts. It is the ruins of the temple of Zeus that you see. Zeus was the Supreme Greek god. The Greek gods were supposed to have their home on Mount Olympus, a snow-covered range whose greatest height is less than 10,000 feet. The temple is supposed to have been built during the year 500 B. C. The enclosure in which the temple stood was 250 yards long and 200 yards wide. Outside the enclosure was a great wrestling ground, a hippodrome or covered race-track, and houses in which the athletes lived while getting their final training. Here was also one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the golden-ivory statue of Zeus, 40 feet high, carved by the famous sculptor, Phidias. On the dates of the Olympian games, the people gathered here to see the running, the wrestling, the discus throwing, and the hurdling. All these games were sacred to Zeus, and were a part of the religious ceremonies of the Greeks. Keystone ID: 7155 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.