Experience Ancient Olympia as it was 2,000 years ago using AI and AR

Microsoft and the Greek Ministry of Culture have used cutting-edge technology to bring the past to life

In January 2020, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with the President of Microsoft Brad Smith at the Davos Economic Forum. There, they discussed the possibility of Microsoft investing in Greece and helping it present its cultural heritage in a new way, using modern technology.

On 10 November 2021, Mitsotakis unveiled the project that Microsoft and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports had been working on for nearly two years – “Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds”. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR), the two bodies have made it possible for citizens and tourists to experience and see Olympia as it stood more than 2,000 years ago.

How to view Ancient Olympia

To travel back in time and see the beauty of Ancient Greece, one must simply download the Ancient Olympia mobile app that brings Olympia’s monuments to life using modern technologies. This new app will allow visitors onsite to navigate through the area and experience the surroundings as they once stood.

In addition to this, one can visit the website olympiacommongrounds.gr from anywhere in the world to explore Ancient Olympia in 3D on their PC or tablet. Lastly, Microsoft and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports have further collaborated to create a mixed reality exhibition in Athens Olympic Museum.

Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds (Source: Ministry of Culture on Youtube)

Connecting the past with the present and future

The Greek PM expressed his delight with the innovative digital project at its inauguration, noting that it is a big step not just for Greece but for the whole world. More specifically, Ancient Olympia: Common Grounds acts as proof of how using modern technology such as AI and AR can connect the past with the present and the future to give people a better understanding of our history.

Echoing this statement, the President of Microsoft Brad Smith shared: “The project for the digital preservation of Ancient Olympia is an important achievement in the field of promoting cultural heritage. It brings together the human factor and cutting-edge technology and invites future generations to explore our past in a new way.”

To see illustrations of Ancient Olympia, view the gallery above.