Repeated Tsunamis, not Earthquakes Buried Ancient Olympia in Greece

A series of tsunamis might have submerged and later buried the ancient city of Olympia in Greece, a new research has revealed, contradicting earlier beliefs that earthquake destroyed the city in 551 AD.

Olympia, believed to be the origin place of the Olympic Games, was located about eight or even more kilometers further inland from the sea that provides strong evidence of devastation by tsunamis, Andreas Vott of the Institute of Geography of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, told Discovery News.

According to Vott, who is investigating the paleotsunamis that occurred along the coastlines of the eastern Mediterranean over the last 11,000 years, strong evidence for repeated tsunamis came from the presence of molluscs, snail shells and the remains of marine protozoa.

“The sediments were transported inland at high speed and energy, reaching Olympia although the site lies some 108 feet above sea level,” he said.

Supporting his investigation, Vott said that Western Greece has a historical account of having one tsunami every eight to 11 years on average.

Olympia is believed to be the sacred ground of Greeks and consisted of worship and games buildings. Excavation of the site has also revealed many art works, including statues of Gods.