Olympia (anc. geog.), with the surname Pifatis (Strabo); so called from the territory of Pifa in Elis; described by Strabo, "as the temple of Jupiter Olympus, before which stands a grove of wild olive-trees, in which is the stadium, or foot-course, so called because the eighth part of a mile; and by which the Alpheus, coming down from Arcadia, runs." Olympia, however, was famous, not merely for the temple of Jupiter, but also for a temple of Juno, 63 feet long, with columns round it of the Doric order; and a Metroum or temple of the mother of the gods, a large Doric edifice; with holy treasuries. These, and the porticoes, a gymnasion, prytaneum, and many more buildings, chiefly in the enclosure, with the houses of the priests and other inhabitants, made Olympia no insignificant place. The stadium was in the grove of wild olive-trees, before the great temple; and near it was the hippodrome or course for the races of horses and chariots. The Alpheus flowed by from Arcadia with a copious and very pleasant stream, which was received on the coast by the Sicilian sea.

The temple of Jupiter was of the Doric order, 68 feet high to the pediment, 95 wide, and 230 long; the cell encompassed with columns. It was erected with the country-stone; the roof, not of earth baked, but of Pentelic marble; the slabs disposed as tiles; the way to it up a winding staircase. The two pediments were enriched with sculpture; and one had over the centre a statue of Victory gilded, and underneath a votive buckler. Olympia, buckler of gold. At each corner was a gilded vase. Above the columns were fixed 21 gilded bucklers, offered at the conclusion of the Achaean war by the Roman general Mummius. The gates in the two fronts were of brass, and over them were carved the labours of Hercules. Within the cell were double colonnades, between which was the approach to the image.

The Jupiter of Olympia was accounted alone sufficient to immortalize its maker, Phidias. It was of ivory and gold, the head crowned with olive. In the right hand was a statue of Victory; in the left a flowered sceptre, composed of various metals, on which was an eagle. The sandals were of gold, as also the vestment, which was curiously embossed with lilies and animals. The throne was gold inlaid with ebony and ivory, and studded with jewels, intermixed with paintings and exquisite figures in relievo. The pillars between the feet contributed to its support. Before it were walls, serving as a fence, decorated principally with the exploits of Hercules; the portion opposite to the door of a blue colour. It was the office of a family descended from Phidias, called phaedruntae or the pollybers, to keep the work bright and clean. The veil or curtain was cloth rich with the purple dye of Phoenicia and with Assyrian embroidery, an offering of king Antiochus, and was let down from above by loosing the strings. The image impressed on the spectator an opinion that it was higher and wider than it measured. Its magnitude was such, that though the temple was very large, the artist seemed to have erred in the proportions. The god, fitting, nearly touched the ceiling with his head; suggesting an idea, that if he were to rise up, he would destroy the roof. A part of the pavement before it was of black marble, enclosed in a rim of Parian or white, where they poured oil to preserve the ivory.

The altar of Jupiter Olympius was of great antiquity, and composed of ashes from the thighs of the victims, which were carried up and consumed on the top with wood of the white poplar-tree. The ashes also of the prytanum, in which a perpetual fire was kept on a hearth, were removed annually on a fixed day, and spread on it, being first mingled with water from the Alpheus. The cement, it was affirmed, could be made with that fluid only; and therefore this river was much respected, and esteemed the most friendly of any to the god. On each side of the altar were stone-steps. Its height was 22 feet. Girls and women, when allowed to be at Olympia, were suffered to ascend the basement, which was 125 feet in circumference. The people of Elis sacrificed daily, and private persons as often as they chose.

Religion flourished at Olympia, and many deities were worshipped besides Jupiter. Pausanias has enumerated above 60 altars of various shapes and kinds. One of the unknown gods stood by the great altar. The people of Elis offered on all these monthly; laying on them boughs of olive; burning incense, and wheat mixed with honey; and pouring libations of such liquors as the ritual prescribed. At the latter ceremony sometimes a form of prayer was used, and they sung hymns composed in the Doric dialect.

Olympia was situated on an eminence, between two mountains called Ossa and Olympus. Though its ancient splendor is gone, the place reminds the traveller of what it once was. It is in the Marea, being now Olympiad, a small place called Longinico, 50 miles south of Leonto, in E. Long. 22° 0' N. Lat. 37° 40'.