Statue of olympian zeus

1. STATUE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS

2.

• In the 5th century BC, the citizens of Olympia decided to
build a temple of Zeus. It was built of huge stone blocks,
and it was surrounded by massive columns. For several
years there was no statue of Zeus in the temple,
although everyone said that it was necessary. The
famous Athenian sculptor Phidias was chosen as the
creator of the statue.

3.

• Phidias and his assistants created a wooden
frame that was supposed to serve as a skeleton
for the statue of Zeus. After that, they covered the
frame with ivory plates representing the skin of
the god, and gold sheets depicting his attire. The
workers hid the joints, so that the statue looked
like a single figure.
• Then, under heavy guard, precious stones and
200 kg of pure gold were brought to the temple at
the feet of the thunderer

4.  

• Zeus sat on a throne made of wood
and precious stones. The finished
statue reached 13 m in height and
almost touched the ceiling of the
temple. Platforms for spectators
were built along the walls so that
people, climbing on them, could
see the face of God. After its
completion in 435 BC, the statue
remained one of the greatest
wonders of the world for 800 years.

5.

• Zeus sat majestically in
his temple for more
than seven centuries,
until he was severely
damaged by an
earthquake in the 2nd
century AD. After that,
the gradual decline of
both the temple and the
statue of Zeus itself
began. Thieves ripped
off gold, precious
stones and even ivory.
In an attempt to save
the statue, it was taken
to Constantinople,
where it burned down
during a severe fire

6.

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attention!