The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Michelle Rene Holbrook

Jos Eduardo Romo Miranda

Paulina Correa Martnez Alexis Smok Carranza

The Seven Wonders

Selected by the Ancient Greeks

When the ancient Greeks decided to select seven wonders from the many impressive structures that had been constructed throughout history, there was a lot of argument about which structures to select.

The Seven Wonders

Selected by the Ancient Greeks
Over the years, many different lists were created. Finally, a list was presented that most Greeks agreed included the seven most wondrous wonders, each a unique achievement.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

There was absolutely no argument about the Statue of Zeus. It was a world wonder everyone knew that! Zeus was the king of the ancient Greek gods. Zeus was known as the god of the universe.

Zeus was the king of all of the constellations in the heavens.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Olympia was the city that hosted the Ancient Greek Olympic Games.

The statue was built in Olympia to honor Zeus and the Greek Olympic Games.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Temple of Zeus was completed in 456 BC.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Like the Parthenon and the Temple of Artemis, Doric columns were used to support the structure.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was carved by the famed Classical sculptor Phidias circa 435 BC in Olympia, Greece.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The statue was housed in a purpose-built temple, and it took up the whole width of the aisle. It was about 12 meters tall.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Zeus was carved from ivory then covered with gold plating and was seated on a magnificent throne of cedarwood inlaid with ivory, gold, ebony, and precious stones.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

In Zeus' right hand there was a small statue of Nike, the goddess of victory,

and in his left hand, a shining scepter on which an eagle perched.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The circumstances of its eventual destruction are a source of debate: some scholars argue that it perished with the temple in the 5th century AD,

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

others argue that it was carried off to Constantinople, where it was destroyed in the great fire.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Perhaps the greatest discovery in terms of finding out about this wonder came in 1958 with the excavation of the workshop used to create the statue.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

This has led archaeologists to be able to re-create the technique used to make the great work.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Today, little remains of the temple or the once magnificent Statue of Zeus within it.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

But the spirit of the Olympic Games lives on!