Olympia - Temple of Zeus 
Although the temple of Zeus at Olympia collapsed in an earthquake in the A.D. sixth century the massive remains still allow us to gain some idea of what it was like. On the three-stepped crepidoma (27.7m/91ft by 64.1m/210ft; completely preserved), supported on foundations 3m/10ft high, stood 6 x 13 columns, each 10.53m/34.5ft high and 2.23m/7ft 4in in diameter at the base.
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The total height of the temple was about 20m/65ft. While the main structure was of muschelkalk limestone faced with stucco, Parian marble was used for the roof with its 102 lion's-head water-spouts and for the sculpture on the metopes and pediments. The sculpture (ca. 460 B.C.) is masterly work in the Severe style (finds in Museum).
The Temple of Zeus was built with the plunder of Helia from its wars against Pissa and Trifila. Of the ivory and gold statue of Zeus by Phidias, the philosopher Dion had said that one had to look at it to forget all his troubles.
The Temple of Zeus was built with the plunder of Helia from its wars against Pissa and Trifila. Of the ivory and gold statue of Zeus by Phidias, the philosopher Dion had said that one had to look at it to forget all his troubles.
Related Attractions
East Pediment
On the east pediment Zeus stands in the middle, flanked by King Oinomaos, his wife Sterope, his daughter Hippodameia and Hippodameia's future husband Pelops, before the chariot race in which Oinomaos lost both his throne and his life.
Metopes
In the Temple of Zeus the metopes above the pronaos and opisthodomos depict the twelve labors of Herakles. Particularly fine are the metopes of Atlas and Augeias; some of the others are heavily restored or are casts of the originals (which were carried off by the French Expédition de Morée and are now in the Louvre).
The naos of the temple, in the pronaos of which is a mosaic of the fourth or third century B.C., had two rows of columns and housed the cult image of Zeus (after 438 B.C.). This huge chryselephantine statue, which depicted Zeus sitting on a richly decorated throne, was counted among the seven wonders of the world.
The naos of the temple, in the pronaos of which is a mosaic of the fourth or third century B.C., had two rows of columns and housed the cult image of Zeus (after 438 B.C.). This huge chryselephantine statue, which depicted Zeus sitting on a richly decorated throne, was counted among the seven wonders of the world.
West Pediment
The west pediment at the Temple of Zeus shows Zeus's son Apollo in the middle, intervening imperiously in the battle between Lapiths and Centaurs which flared up at the marriage of Theseus's friend Peirithoos with Deidameia. Here the sculptor has broken the scene up into groups of two and three, whose violent movement is in sharp contrast to the tense tranquillity of the east pediment.
