The aphesis of the Olympic hippodrome: Dimensions, design, technology

A groundbreaking reconstruction of the ancient Olympic hippodrome's starting-gate (aphesis) offers new insights into its design and technology, addressing long-standing mysteries about one of Olympia's largest monuments. Despite extensive geomagnetic and archaeological investigations failing to locate the racecourse, this study proposes a plausible mechanism based on Pausanias' 2nd-century AD description, integrating perishable materials like wood and ropes with semi-precious bronze components such as dolphins or eagles. The reconstruction challenges previous assumptions about the lack of detail in ancient accounts and contributes to our understanding of ancient Greek hippodrome technology.

Dimde, B., & Flämig, C. (2019). The aphesis of the Olympic hippodrome: Dimensions, design, technology. Les Hippodromes et Les Concours Hippiques Dans La Grèce Antique, 145–166. https://doi.org/10.4000/books.efa.6497