Statue Zeus Pp

1. The Statue of Zeus at The Statue of Zeus at
OlympiaOlympia
Ashley ChoAshley Cho

2. ContentContent
The Statue of Zeus at OlympiaThe Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The PurposeThe Purpose
When was it builtWhen was it built
Where was it locatedWhere was it located
Who built it Who built it
Description Description
The existenceThe existence

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

4. The Statue of Zeus at The Statue of Zeus at
OlympiaOlympia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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