---
title: Stadium: The Sports Field of Ancient Greece
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Stadium/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-04-18
---
# Stadium: The Sports Field of Ancient Greece
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
In the ancient [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) world, the word stadium or *stadion* referred to a measurement of distance, a foot-race, and the place where the race was held and observed by spectators.
### The Great Games
Greek sporting events were closely connected to [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/), and for this reason Games were held at religiously important sites or sanctuaries. The competitions, held every two or four years and running over centuries, were to honour a particular deity or demi-[god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) such as [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) at [Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/) (from 776 BCE), [Apollo](https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/) at [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/) (from 586 BCE), [Poseidon](https://www.worldhistory.org/poseidon/) at [Isthmia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Isthmia/) (from 580 BCE), and Opheltes at [Nemea](https://www.worldhistory.org/nemea/) (from 573 BCE). These constituted the four major [Pan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pan/)-[Hellenic](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/) Games; however, other locations on the Greek mainland and islands also hosted regular athletic festivals. The oldest competition in these Games was the foot-race over a specified distance - the *stade* or *stadion*, which was 600 feet in length. As the foot (or *pous*) was not absolutely standardised throughout [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/), a *stadion* could vary in different locations from 177 m in length at Delphi to 192 m at Olympia. At Nemea small posts survive along the side of the track which [mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Mark/) every 100 feet along the *stadion*.
The *stadion* race was a single length of the track and equivalent to the modern-day 200 m running race. For the first 13 [Olympic Games](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympic_Games/) (776 BCE to 728 BCE) it was the only event, and even when other competitions were added to the Olympic programme, the *stadion* remained the first and most prestigious event. Victors in the *stadion* received a crown - of olive leaves at Olympia, pine (and then celery) at Isthmia, laurel at Delphi, and celery at Nemea - and received honours and gifts from their home [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/). However, the real prize was fame and glory. Victors won tremendous acclaim, giving their name to that Olympiad, for example, and quite literally, being hero-worshipped, sometimes even after their [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). Perhaps the most celebrated athlete was [Leonidas](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Leonidas/) of [Rhodes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Rhodes/) who won the *stadion* event in no less than four consecutive Olympiads.
From 724 BCE the athletic events were expanded to include other races such as the *diaulos* (two lengths of the track), *hippios* (four *stadia*), *dolichos* (a long distance race ranging from 7 to 20 *stadia*), and the race in armour or *hoplitodromos* (a two to four *stadion* race ran in greaves, helmet, and shield).
[  Ancient Stadium, Nemea, Greece Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/612/ancient-stadium-nemea-greece/ "Ancient Stadium, Nemea, Greece")### The Stadium Venue
The *stadion* was also the name of the place where spectators watched the event. The track itself was usually prepared with hard-packed clay (watered and rolled to create a hard crust) and included an area both before and after the *stadion* length. Behind the starting line, which was initially a simple line drawn in the track surface, was space for the starting judge, and after the finish line was a space for the athletes to slow down, usually 15 m in length (interestingly, this is also the regulation length for modern running tracks).
Over time, the starting procedure for races became more complex. In the 5th century BCE, permanent stone slabs (*balbis*) were placed across the track with parallel grooves for athletes (who competed naked and barefoot) to place their toes in, ensuring all started level and from a standing position. Another addition was small pillars on the starting line to demarcate the separate lanes which ranged from twentty-two at Nemea to 11 at Epidauros (if there were more runners than lanes, there were preliminary heats). Lanes were decided by lot (usually using [pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/pottery/) shards). Finally, in the 4th century BCE a complex system (*hysplex*) of pillars, horizontal poles, and rope created a mechanism whereby one starting judge could release all the athletes simultaneously. In the case of Isthmia, the judge stood in a pit behind the athletes. The finish was indicated by a simple line in the ground, and if the race was more than one *stadion* in length, a small turning post (*kampter*) was set up in the centre of the finish line.
[  Stadium Entrance, Olympia Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/426/stadium-entrance-olympia/ "Stadium Entrance, Olympia")Initially, *stadia* were simple, flat, rectangular tracks, sometimes built near natural hills for spectators to have a clear view of the events. However, from the early 5th century BCE artificial embankments became a common feature, as were conduits around the track to drain off excess rain water. The track also usually sloped a little (2 m at Nemea) for this purpose. Seats were later added either in stone as at Delphi, [Delos](https://www.worldhistory.org/delos/), and Rhodes or in marble at [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) and Isthmia. The seating area also became more sophisticated with steps and divisions added to facilitate access and perhaps, more importantly, to ensure an orderly exit of the spectators. Certain VIP seats on a raised platform in the centre positions were a common feature. These were reserved for the specially trained judges (*Hellanodikai*) and at Olympia, for the priestess of [Demeter](https://www.worldhistory.org/demeter/) Chamyne.
Seating capacity ranged from 30,000 at Nemea to as high as 45,000 at Olympia. In the case of the Pan-Hellenic Games, people came from all over Greece to enjoy the spectacle and intriguingly, numismatic evidence at Nemea strongly suggests that the crowds sat in geographical groups. Although young girls could enter, [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/) were not permitted into the *stadia* during events. The crowd would participate in events both with vocal support and by throwing flowers or laurel leaves on the victor.
In the [Hellenistic period](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hellenistic_Period/) a vaulted corridor (*krypton*) was added to *stadia* (e.g.: Olympia and Nemea) which became the entrance to the track for athletes and judges and connected the *stadion* to the rest of the religious complex. In [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) times, *stadia* entrances were made more monumental, and often semi-circular seating enclosed the starting end of the stadium.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Charitonidou, A. *Epidaurus.* Clio editions, 1978.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B0007BJ6S4/)
- Miller, S.G. *Nemea A Guide To The Site & Museum.* MOCAR, Athens, 2004
- [Papahatzis, N. *Ancient Corinth.* Ekdotike Athenon, 1981.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/9602131438/)
- [Yalouris, N. *The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece.* Ekdotike Athenon, 1982.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B0037ZNHIC/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **776 BCE**: First athletic games in honour of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/) are held at [Olympia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympia/) with one event, the *stadion* foot race.
- **586 BCE**: First athletic games at [Delphi](https://www.worldhistory.org/delphi/).
- **580 BCE**: First athletic games at [Isthmia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Isthmia/).
- **573 BCE**: First athletic games at [Nemea](https://www.worldhistory.org/nemea/) in honour of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/).
- **488 BCE**: Kroton of [Magna Graecia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Magna_Graecia/) wins the first of three consecutive *stadion* races in the [Olympic Games](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympic_Games/).
- **330 BCE - 320 BCE**: New [stadium](https://www.worldhistory.org/Stadium/) constructed at [Nemea](https://www.worldhistory.org/nemea/).
- **271 BCE**: Final Games at [Nemea](https://www.worldhistory.org/nemea/).
- **261 CE**: Last documented victor at [Olympic Games](https://www.worldhistory.org/Olympic_Games/).
- **393 CE**: [Roman Emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/) Theodosius definitively ends all pagan Games in [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/).
## External Links
- [Athletics & Sport - Ancient Greek Society 05](https://ed.ted.com/on/XmJLu9rt)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2012, June 24). Stadium: The Sports Field of Ancient Greece. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Stadium: The Sports Field of Ancient Greece." *World History Encyclopedia*, June 24, 2012. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Stadium: The Sports Field of Ancient Greece." *World History Encyclopedia*, 24 Jun 2012, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 24 June 2012. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.