The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a massive chryselephantine sculpture commissioned in around 440 BC and completed in 456 BC. It was housed in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, located in ancient Olympia on the western coast of Greece. The statue was over 12 meters tall and depicted Zeus seated on a throne. It was sculpted by Phidias and was considered one of the greatest works of Greek art and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. However, it was later destroyed in a fire in the 5th century AD.

1. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia Ashley Cho

2. Content The Statue of Zeus at Olympia The Purpose When was it built Where was it located Who built it Description The existence

3. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia There was only one temple to Zeus that housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Temple of Zeus at Olympia was home to one of greatest sculptural achievements of ancient history. The temple was an ideal representation of the high Classical style of art, and a significant reminder of the strength of Greek religion.

4. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

5. What was the its purpose The Athenian sculptor Phidias is considered the greatest of the classical sculptors, son in 440 B.C., when it was decided that Zeus should preside via statue at the Olympic games, at Olympia, those responsible for honoring the king of the gods commissioned Phidias.

6. When was it built The construction was started between 470 and 460 B.C. The Statue of Zeus, was completed in 456 B.C. It lasted as an inspiration to and destination for thousands for many years.

7. Where was it located At the ancient town of Olympia, on the west coast modern Greece, about 150 km west of Athens.

8. Who built it It was made by the Greek sculptor of the Classical period, Phidias. It was designed by Libon, and architect from neighboring Elis.

9. Description The statue followed a design used on many large Grecian temples. It was similar to the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. The seated statue, some 12 meters (39 feet) tall, occupied the whole width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. Zeus was a chryselephantine sculpture, made of ivory and gold-plated bronze.

10. Description In the sculpture, he was wreathed with shoots of the olive and seated on a magnificent throne of cedarwood, inlaid with ivory, gold, ebony, and precious stones. In Zeus’ right hand there was a small statue of crowned Nike, goddess of victory, also chryselephantine, and in his left hand, a scepter inlaid with metals, on which an eagle perched.

11. The existence After the statue inhabited the Temple of Zeus in Olympia for about 850 years (from around 450 BC to about 400 AD), some Greeks moved it to Constantinople (modern Istanbul). It was fortunate they did because the Temple of Zeus was destroyed shortly thereafter. However, this was only a temporary reprieve. The statue’s new home burned down in 462 AD. The Statue of Zeus no more, forever.