Altar of Hera, Olympia Travel Guide

The Altar of Hera is located east of the Heraion, directly in front of the temple. It is a small, oblong structure made of poros stone, measuring 5.80 meters in length and 3.50 meters in width. The altar was constructed around the 6th century BC, coinciding with the construction of the Temple of Hera, replacing an earlier altar formed by the ashes of sacrificed animals.Today, the Altar of Hera is where the Olympic flame is lit using a parabolic mirror to concentrate the sun's rays. This tradition began for the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and has been carried out for every subsequent Olympiad. The Olympic flame symbolizes purity and continuity. The flame is then carried to the host city, marking the start of the games.The Altar of Hera and the Temple of Hera are located within the Altis, the sacred enclosure and core of the sanctuary. The archaeological site of Olympia includes the sanctuary of Zeus and other buildings, such as athletic facilities, administrative buildings, and monuments.