Olympia
/əˈlɪmpiə/noun
Olympia is an ancient Greek sanctuary in the Peloponnese and the modern name of several places, including Olympia, Washington.
Did you know?The Olympic Games were held at Olympia in honor of Zeus, whose colossal gold-and-ivory statue there was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Greek antiquity
Pre-Greek
*Olympos
“The underlying name of Mount Olympus; its original meaning and language are uncertain.”
5th–4th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
Ὀλυμπία (Olympía)
“The sanctuary and sacred precinct of Zeus at Olympia.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Olympia
“The Greek sanctuary and site of the Olympic contests.”
Middle Ages
Medieval Latin
Olympia
“A classical place-name preserved in learned and ecclesiastical writing.”
16th–17th Century
English
Olympia
“A classical proper name revived in English usage.”
Modern English
English
Olympia
“A proper name used for places, people, institutions, and references to the ancient sanctuary.”