More villages were evacuated in the Peloponnese region on Thursday as a blaze raged near the archaeological games site in Ancient Olympia, but its treasures were out of danger, authorities said.
“Our forces fought an all-night battle ... to keep the archaeological site and the town intact,” Citizens' Protection Minister Mihalis Chrisohoidis told state television.
The site, where the Olympic flame begins its journey to the city hosting the modern Olympics, is one of Greece's most popular tourist attractions.
Local media showed farm animals among swings in a children's playground, moved there to save them from the flames.
Reinforcements arrived from Cyprus and France and two aircraft from Sweden were expected later on Thursday.
Fires that had threatened the northern outskirts of Athens on Tuesday were under control, with firefighters and aircraft still working there.
The opposition Syriza and KINAL parties have accused the government of being slow to respond to Tuesday's blaze, while winds were still low and conditions favourable.