South of the temple of Zeus is located the building of the Bouleuterion. It was the seat of the parliament of Elis, the members of which were responsible for the organization of the games, as well as the seat of the judges of the games.
Additionally, the fact that the building of Bouleuterion is one of the oldest buildings in the sanctuary, strengthens the argument for the great magnitude of its importance since it was directly related to the planning and administration of the Olympic Games.
What was the role of the Bouleuterion of Olympia?
In Bouleuterion all the participants were recorded, the schedules and the draws of the games, as well as the various announcements were issued by the organizers. Furthermore, the objections and misdemeanors of the athletes were judged here.
When was the foundation of Bouleuterion in Olympia?
The construction of Bouleuterion takes place in the 6th century BC., while additional interventions are carried out during the centuries until the Roman times. In its final form, the building consisted of two elongated arched sections, which were connected to each other by a square building.
According to historians, the central square building housed the altar of Zeus in front of which the ritualistic swearing of the athletes was taking place.
Today the visitor can see the foundations of the monument that stand out after the small restoration works that have been carried out.