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Stadiums In the Ancient World

March 31, 2026
The Stadium at Perga (Turkey)The Stadium at Perga (Turkey)
The Stadium at Laodicea (Turkey)The Stadium at Laodicea (Turkey)
The Stadium at Delphi (Greece)The Stadium at Delphi (Greece)
The Stadium at Nemea (Greece)The Stadium at Nemea (Greece)
Starting Blocks at Stadium at Priene (Turkey) — In the Footsteps of Paul (May/June 2021) — Click on Image for Information|http://holylandphotos.org/page.asp?page_ID=50Starting Blocks at Stadium at Priene (Turkey) — In the Footsteps of Paul (May/June 2021) — Click on Image for Information|http://holylandphotos.org/page.asp?page_ID=50

In the Greco-Roman world stadiums were used for athletic contests including running races (compare Acts 20:24; Gal 2:2; Phil 2:16; 2 Tim 4:7; etc.) wrestling, boxing (1 Cor 9:26–27), discus and javelin throwing and other spectacles.

Note how the writer of the book of Hebrews (12:1) writes "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."