Stadium
An English word for a large sports venue, derived from the Greek stadion, both a unit of measurement of approximately 185 metres and the footrace of that distance at Olympia
The Meaning of Stadium
The word "stadium" derives from the Greek stadion, which was both a unit of distance (approximately 185 metres or 600 Greek feet) and the name for the footrace of that length. The stadion race was the oldest and most prestigious event at the ancient Olympic Games — the games were traditionally dated from the first stadion race in 776 BCE, and each Olympiad was named after the winner of this event. The running track at Olympia, also called the stadion, measured one stadion in length. The surrounding area where spectators watched became known by the same name, and this is the origin of the modern architectural term. The ancient stadium at Olympia could hold approximately forty-five thousand spectators along its earthen embankments. Other famous ancient stadia included the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, rebuilt in marble for the 1896 Olympics, and the stadium at Delphi, dramatically situated above the Temple of Apollo. The word entered English through Latin and is now applied universally to large sporting venues. The modern stadium has evolved far beyond its Greek origins, but every one of them traces its name to a running track in the Peloponnese.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, originally built in 330 BCE and rebuilt for the first modern Olympics in 1896, is the only stadium in the world made entirely of marble
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
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💭 conceptLanguage and athletics
An English word for a facility for physical exercise, derived from the Greek gymnasion where men trained naked, from gymnos meaning nude
Olympiad
💭 conceptAthletics and time-keeping
A four-year period between Olympic Games used as a dating system in ancient Greece, now applied to the modern Olympic Games and international athletic competition generally
Marathon
💭 conceptAthletics and military history
A long-distance running event of 42.195 kilometres, named after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE and the legendary run of a messenger bringing news of victory to Athens
Olympic Games
💭 conceptAthletics, Zeus, Olympia
Panhellenic athletic festival held every four years at Olympia in honour of Zeus
Olympian
💭 conceptExcellence, supreme achievement, athletic greatness
Pertaining to supreme mastery or athletic competition, from Mount Olympus, home of the gods.
God of Athletes
💭 conceptAthletics, competition, physical excellence, gymnastics
Hermes presides over athletic contests, protecting competitors and rewarding speed, skill, and fair play.
Pentathalon
💭 conceptathletics, excellence
The five-event Olympic competition combining running, jumping, discus, javelin, and wrestling, considered the test of the complete athlete.
Gymnasium
💭 conceptExercise, physical training, education
A place for physical exercise and education, from the Greek "gymnasion" where athletes trained naked.
Pythian Games
💭 conceptathletics, music
One of the four Panhellenic Games held at Delphi every four years in honour of Apollo, unique for combining athletic events with musical competitions.
Pan-Hellenic Games
💭 conceptCulture
The four great athletic and religious festivals that united the Greek world in sacred competition
Nemean Games
💭 conceptathletics, funeral
One of the four Panhellenic Games held at Nemea every two years, traditionally founded as funeral games for the infant Opheltes, with victors crowned in wild celery.
Cyclopean
💭 conceptLanguage and architecture
An English adjective meaning immense or massive, particularly applied to ancient stonework of enormous blocks, named after the Cyclopes who were believed to have built the walls of Mycenae and Tiryns