The monumental statue of Zeus at Olympia in Greece was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The great statue of Zeus made it onto the established list of Seven Wonders from the 2nd century BCE, but it was by then already widely known, imitated in sculpture and represented in vase paintings, carved gemstones, and on coinage from the 4th century BCE, notably on the reverse side of the silver tetradrachms of Alexander the Great (336-323 BCE) and the coins of Elis. The statue was 40 feet (12 meters) high and depicted Zeus sitting regally on his throne. Please support World History Encyclopedia Foundation. Ancient Olympia commissioned one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the great statue of Zeus built by Phidias. Structures at Olympia included temples, housing for priests and others involved in the Games, and public buildings actually used for … "The statue of Zeus at Olympia in Western imagination via the Internet." Phidias was the perfect choice for what would be a challenging project requiring hundreds of craftsmen and several years of work. 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 newly constructed Temple of Zeus. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was created by a sculptor named Phidias. Cartwright, M. (2018, July 24). Worshipped by pilgrims from across the Mediterranean, the statue inspired countless imitations and defined the standard representation of Zeus in Greek and Roman art in sculpture, on coins, pottery, and gemstones. ἀμβρόσιαι δ' ἄρα χαῖται ἐπερρώσαντο ἄνακτος to honor the greatest Greek god and the father of the Olympic Games, it was at one time the most famous statue in the ancient world.. Roman emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) was still using the same image on his coins in the 2nd century CE. The Zeus statue, like Athena, was chryselephantine, that is a combination of gold and ivory over a wooden core, with the god's skin (face, torso, arms and legs) being in ivory and his beard, robes, and staff rendered in brilliant gold, applied in hammered sheets. The ruined statue of Zeus from the center of the East pediment of the temple of Zeus. The statue of Zeus in the temple at Olympia stood more than 40 feet high (Copyright Lee Krystek, 2011) In ancient times one of the Greeks most mportant festivals, the Olympic Games, was held every four years in honor of the King of their gods, Zeus. 11). The passage underneath the throne was restricted by painted screens. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. [7] This reservoir acted as a reflecting pool which doubled the apparent height of the statue. There are the Graces (Charites), the Seasons (Horae), various Nikes, sphinxes, Amazons, and the children of Niobe. Ascension to the heavens in ancient mythology The Olympic games always signalled a time of peace and truce providing leaders with the opportunity to meet together unarmed and in safety and to safeguard those travelling to and from Olympia. The new cult statue and temple to house it would be fine additions, adding prestige to Olympia at a time when there were still rival games held at other sites such as Delphi, Nemea, and Isthmia near Corinth. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Statue_of_Zeus_at_Olympia/. The screens between the legs of the throne were painted by Phidias' brother Panaenus (Panainos) and depicted the Labours of Hercules, Achilles with Penthesilea, Hippodamia with Sterope, Salamis, and scenes of Greece. 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