Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated figure, about 13 m (43 ft) tall, made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, and erected in the Temple of Zeus there. A sculpture of ivory plates and gold panels over a wooden framework, it represented the god Zeus sitting on an elaborate cedar wood throne ornamented with ebony, ivory, gold and precious stones. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was lost and destroyed during the 5th century AD with no copy ever being found, and details of its form are known only from ancient Greek descriptions and representations on coins.

The statue of Zeus was commissioned by the Eleans, custodians of the Olympic Games, in the latter half of the fifth century BC for their recently constructed Temple of Zeus. Seeking to outdo their Athenian rivals, the Eleans employed the renowned sculptor Phidias, who had previously made the massive statue of Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon.

The great seated statue as fashioned by Phidias occupied half the width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. "It seems that if Zeus were to stand up," the geographer Strabo noted early in the 1st century BC, "he would unroof the temple." The Zeus was a chryselephantine sculpture, made with ivory and gold panels on a wooden substructure. No copy in marble or bronze has survived, though there are recognizable but only approximate versions on coins of nearby Elis and on Roman coins and engraved gems.

In the 2nd century AD, the geographer and traveler Pausanias gave a detailed description. The statue was crowned with a sculpted wreath of olive sprays, and wore a gilded robe made from glass and carved with animals and lilies. In its right hand was a small chryselephantine statue of crowned Nike, goddess of victory. Its left hand held a scepter inlaid with many metals, supporting an eagle. The throne featured painted figures and wrought images and was decorated in gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory. Zeus' golden sandals rested upon a footstool decorated with an Amazonomachy in relief. The passage underneath the throne was restricted by painted screens.

Pausanias also recounts that the statue was kept constantly coated with olive oil to counter the harmful effect on the ivory caused by the "marshiness" of the Altis grove. The floor in front of the image was paved with black tiles and surrounded by a raised rim of marble, to contain the oil.This reservoir acted as a reflecting pool which doubled the apparent height of the statue.

According to the Roman historian Livy, the Roman general Aemilius Paulus (the victor over Macedon) saw the statue and "was moved to his soul, as if he had seen the god in person,"while the 1st century AD Greek orator Dio Chrysostom declared that a single glimpse of the statue would make a man forget all his earthly troubles.He spoke, the son of Cronos, and nodded his head with the dark brows,and the immortally anointed hair of the great godswept from his divine head, and all Olympos was shaken.

The sculptor also was reputed to have immortalised Pantarkes, the winner of the boys' wrestling event at the eighty-sixth Olympiad who was said to have been his "beloved" (eromenos), by carving Pantarkes kalos ("Pantarkes is beautiful") into Zeus's little finger, and by placing a relief of the boy crowning himself at the feet of the statue.

According to Pausanias, "when the image was quite finished Pheidias prayed the god to show by a sign whether the work was to his liking. Immediately, runs the legend, a thunderbolt fell on that part of the floor where down to the present day the bronze jar stood to cover the place.

Some intersting facts about Statue of Zeus at Olympia

1. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was created many years ago; approximately 435AD. It has since become one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
2. The sculptor who made the Statue of Zeus at Olympia was Greek and he was known as Phidias. He is recognized as one of the greatest sculptors of Ancient Greece.
3. The finished sculpture was very big. Despite the figure of Zeus at Olympia being seated, the statue still measured around 13 meters tall.
4. The statue was built in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia in Greece in representation of the Greek God.
5. In Greek mythology, Zeus was the God of the sky, thunder, lighting, law, justice and order. He is known as the 'Father of Gods and men' who ruled the Olympians.
6. The beautiful statue was created from a wooden frame covered with gold, ivory, ebony and gem stones.
7. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia depicted the Greek God sitting on his throne.
8. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia no longer exists; it is believed that the sculpture was destroyed during the 5th century AD.
9. The only details we have regarding the Statue of Zeus at Olympia derive from engravings on coins and descriptions dating back to the time of ancient Greece.
10. The statue was located in the Temple of Zeus. The temple was built during Ancient Greek times between the years of 472 and 456 BC. The temple was a dedication to the God of the Sky, Zeus.
11. How long did it take to complete the statue of Zeus? It is believed to have taken Greek sculptor Phidias around twelve years in total to complete the sculpture. It was created in his workshop which was located at Olympia.
12. The head of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia was sculptured wearing an olive wreath. In Greek, an olive wreath is known as 'kotinos'. During the ancient Olympic Games, an olive wreath would be presented to the winner.
13. In the right hand of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia sits Nike; who, in Greek Mythology, is the goddess of Victory and a close friend of Zeus.
14. The left hand of the Statue of Zeus holds a sceptre which is a long, decorated stick carried by a king as a symbol of power. An eagle is perched on the top of Zeus’ sceptre.
15. The statue was a fantastic creation which has since become one of the Ancient Wonders. Zeus' robe and sandal were made from gold and his clothing was carved with images of lilies and animals.