AGRAPIDCHORI – ILIDA: THE ROUTE OF HERCULES 2028 (28 km)
Date: …………………
Start – Time: Agrapidchori Square, at ……………..
Finish – Arrival Time: Ancient Ilida ……………..
(arrival at the wooden theatre of Ilida)
Start – Time: Agrapidchori Square, at ……………..
Finish – Arrival Time: Ancient Ilida ……………..
(arrival at the wooden theatre of Ilida)
Registrations have not yet opened.
On …………., the symbolic “Laying Down of Arms” ceremony will take place at the
same location as the race start.
same location as the race start.
Within the registration form, you will find detailed information about the buses
provided by the organizers to facilitate transportation for the Route of Hercules
(from Athens–Corinth–Patras, as well as local routes).Please note that this route is NON-competitive, and all participants
move almost together as a group.According to ancient tradition, anyone arriving armed at the “sacred land of Zeus,”
Ilida, was required to lay down their weapons at the borders of the region and retrieve
them upon departure. Furthermore, during the Olympic Games, all hostilities and wars
were to cease. The Games were dedicated to the father of the gods, and values such as
“Fair Play” and noble competition were paramount. In keeping with this spirit, the
prize was not a valuable material object, but a simple branch of wild olive—the kotinos.
provided by the organizers to facilitate transportation for the Route of Hercules
(from Athens–Corinth–Patras, as well as local routes).Please note that this route is NON-competitive, and all participants
move almost together as a group.According to ancient tradition, anyone arriving armed at the “sacred land of Zeus,”
Ilida, was required to lay down their weapons at the borders of the region and retrieve
them upon departure. Furthermore, during the Olympic Games, all hostilities and wars
were to cease. The Games were dedicated to the father of the gods, and values such as
“Fair Play” and noble competition were paramount. In keeping with this spirit, the
prize was not a valuable material object, but a simple branch of wild olive—the kotinos.
As in 2016 (in Ilida), 2020 (in Agrapidchori) and in 2024 (in Agrapidchori), at the square of Agrapidchori, two “ancient warriors”
will lay down their arms and receive from priestesses an olive branch—an eternal symbol
of peace and of the ancient Olympic Games. They will then pass these olive branches to
the leaders, who will head the 3rd Route of Hercules (from Agrapidchori
Square to Ancient Ilida).The route is dedicated to Hercules, who according to myth was the
founder of the ancient Olympic Games.
You can view the map and more information about the route HERE.
Table with estimated arrival times at each village:
will lay down their arms and receive from priestesses an olive branch—an eternal symbol
of peace and of the ancient Olympic Games. They will then pass these olive branches to
the leaders, who will head the 3rd Route of Hercules (from Agrapidchori
Square to Ancient Ilida).The route is dedicated to Hercules, who according to myth was the
founder of the ancient Olympic Games.
You can view the map and more information about the route HERE.
Table with estimated arrival times at each village:
(Times are indicative and will be updated once the official date and start time of
the Route of Hercules 2028 are announced)
Full video of the Route of Hercules 2020:
The Symbolic Laying Down of Arms 2020:
