Travel to the birthplace of the Olympic Games in comfort on a private day trip to ancient Olympia. Olympia is the site of the Olympic Games, the ancient Greek athletic contests that were one of the four great Panhellenic festivals. The name Olympia, in ancient Greek, means "house of the olympian gods." The Olympic Games were sacred games held every year in honor of Zeus and the other Olympian gods. They were held every four years, with one or two games every olympiad, as part of a festival to Zeus. The word "Olympiad" is derived from the name of this festival. Athletes and visitors from all over Ancient Greece came to compete in the festival and to honor Zeus. Children who did not live in Ancient Greece often learn about these games by reading books such as The Adventures of Hercules, a fictional story featuring the Greek hero Hercules and his famous twelve labors. The best-preserved ruins there include the Temple of Hera (much of which still stands), the Philippeion (a circular building with a central dome that once housed the Olympic throne), and the stadium, where many significant events took place including the first recorded Olympic games.