Built of white marble in the shape of a horseshoe, it stands opposite the National Garden. The first Stadium to be built on this site was constructed of wood in 330 B.C. The marble structure, of which the present day Stadium (Stadio) is a faithful replica, was built by Herodes Atticus.

It is also known as 'Kallimarmaro stadio" (: good all-marble stadium). It was used as a venue for the athletic games held during the feast of Panathenaea, hence its name Panathenaikon. The modern Stadium was built between 1869 and 1870 for the first Olympic Games held in modern times in 1896.