Olympia is an ancient city. People have lived there for thousands of years-since the 10th century B.c. As the birthplace of the Olympic Games, Olympia is famous for bringing people together to do amazing things. Every four years, the ancient Greeks stopped their wars and made peace for a short time, so their athletes could compete and focus on winning the games Today, the Olympics are no longer held in Olympia. The huge hippodrome created for the chariot and horse races is now gone. And instead of athletes, the stadium s often filled with crowds of tounsts. However, Olympia is not just famous for its games. In ancient times, it was also a very important religious center The ancient Greeks built beautiful temples to their gods here-to Zeus, the king of the gods, and to the goddess Hera, his queen. Many people visited the area to bring gifts for the gods, and to ask them for good health, wealth, and happiness. Today, the ruins of the stadium and temples remain to tell us the history of Olympia. The things scientists find here affect the way we understand the ancient Greeks