The Peloponnese played an important role in ancient Greece and included many city-states with great history and mythology. In Percy Jackson, a team visits four cities in the Peloponnese to collect the ingredients for 'The Physician's Cure'.
The Peloponnese, also called Peloponnesus, is the peninsula to the southwest of central Greece and Athens.
While many cities in this region were bustling metropolises during ancient Greece, they are much quieter in modern times, so they are nice places to visit to escape the hustle and bustle of Athens and the islands.
In The Blood of Olympus, the fifth book of the second series, The Heroes of Olympus, Percy, Annabeth, and five other demigods visit four cities in this region to gain information and gather ingredients for the “Physician’s Cure,” a potion that can supposedly bring someone back to life.
They need this potion in order to defeat Gaea, the earth goddess attempting to take over the world.
Olympia
The archeological site of Olympia - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan
Olympia is probably the most famous of the ancient cities in the Peloponnese region. It is the birthplace of the Olympic games, which, according to mythology, were founded by King Pelops, whom the region is named after. Each Olympics still begins with a flame being lit in Olympia!
In ancient times, athletes from all over the Greek lands would travel to Olympia to take part in events that would bestow honor and rewards onto the winners.
During this time, there would be a period of truce between the different city-states so that athletes could safely reach their destination.
Olympian Stadium - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan
If only Percy had such a truce when he visited Olympia! In “The Blood of Olympus,” Percy Jackson and his companions battle Nike. A challenge is issued when they claim that Adidas shoes are superior to Nike shoes!
A fight then breaks out, and the companions manage to abduct Nike and take her back to their ship.
Visitors to Ancient Olympia today can visit several different temples, see where the athletes trained and lived, and even take part in a running race on a track that is thousands of years old. Role-playing battles between the kids in the arena are optional!
The entrance to the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan Less popular as a tourist destination, the town of Pylos is still rich in mythological history. According to Homer’s epics, King Nestor ruled Pylos as a sage elder. The cave named after him, Nestor’s Cave, is said to be where the god Hermes hid 50 cattle he stole from his brother Apollo. The cave is about a 15-minute walk from the parking lot of Voidokilia Beach, but worth it for the breathtaking views of the sea. In The Blood of Olympus, Piper and Frank explore the seaside town of Pylos to find 'Pylosian mint,' one of the ingredients of the Physician’s Cure. Frank finds it in Nestor’s Cave. Sparta Archaeological site - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan Sparta is another city famous for various movies, including '300.' Despite its historic popularity, the archeological site leaves some to be desired. In The Blood of Olympus, Piper describes it as a “field of rubble.” There is an archeology museum that gives you more of an idea of what Ancient Sparta would have been like. In The Blood of Olympus, Annabeth and Piper explore the town, the archeology museum, the ruins, and even the Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil. They fight Ares’ sons, Phobos and Deimos, at the archeological site in order to secure another ingredient for the Physician’s Cure. The Theater in Epidaurus - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan In Greek mythology, Epidaurus was home to Asclepius, a son of Apollo and the god of medicine. The city was a major healing center in ancient Greece—people from all over the Mediterranean would visit. Epidaurus is also home to what is considered the best-preserved ancient theater in Greece. Open to explore the many seats, the theater’s acoustics are astounding. Percy Jackson fans will be reminded of the amphitheater at Camp Half-Blood. The Tholos at Epidaurus - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan In The Blood of Olympus, Epidaurus is the characters’ last stop on the peninsula. Leo, Piper, and Jason enter the Tholos, a circular building possibly used for healing in ancient times, and meet the god Asclepius. They convince him to make the Physician’s Cure for them. A section of the “Cyclopean Walls” of Mycenae - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan While the characters don’t visit or mention Mycenae in the books, it is still an interesting site to visit! The Greek hero Perseus, whom Percy Jackson was named after, was said to have founded Mycenae. This sprawling archaeological site is best known for its theater with perfect acoustics and the Sanctuary of Asclepius. This was once a healing sanctuary dedicated to the Greek God of Medicine, Asclepius, and is a fascinating place to explore. People from hundreds of miles all around would visit here in search of a cure for their ailments, and there were even bunkhouses for travelers to stay in! In The Blood of Olympus, Piper, Leo, and Jason meet Asclepius in the Asclepion, where Jason is given a pair of glasses. According to mythology, Perseus commissioned Cyclopes to build the walls of the city so that no man could destroy them. Percy Jackson fans will remember that Percy is very close with a particular Cyclops named Tyson, whom he considers a brother since they are both sons of Poseidon. The Temple of Apollo in Corinth - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan Controlling an important trade route, Corinth became a powerful city-state. It was also connected with Greek myth, where Corinth is mentioned in the tale of Jason and the Argonauts. The Sorceress Medea was one of the characters featured in this myth, and Rick Riordan adopted this frightening person in The Lost Hero. Percy Jackson fans visiting the Peloponnese should definitely add a stop at Corinth to their itinerary! When visiting Coninth, make sure to also visit the Corinth Canal. You may see some boats passing through that remind you of the Argo II, the boat the demigods sail in The Heroes of Olympus! The Corinth Canal - Photo Credit: Rachel Logan For Percy Jackson fans, the Peloponnese is a veritable playground of things to see and do. Here are some ideas to help you plan a family vacation in the Peloponnese, Greece. Greek Mythology Tours has a number of packages that might appeal to Percy Jackson fans and mythology buffs interested in exploring the Peloponnese peninsula. As part of a 5-day family Greek Mythology Tour, you would get to visit all the sites above, along with the highlights of Athens and Delphi. During a 7 day tour, all of the above would be included, as well as some time spent in Crete - another must-see destination for Percy Jackson fans! Family-friendly accommodation in the Peloponnese would be arranged using our network of trusted providers in places such as Mycenae, Olympia, and Nafplion. Contact us today for more details. All of our Greek Mythology Tours are created on a tailor-made basis, with our basic packages just being used as a guideline. If you would like to create your own mythology tour with us or just cherry-pick sections of the itinerary, contact us today. We are more than happy to help create a personalized family itinerary for your next vacation in Greece!Pylos
Sparta
Epidaurus
Mycenae
Corinth
Final Thoughts
