THE
TEMPLE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA
THE
TEMPLE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA
The Temple of Zeus at Olympia was the most monumental structure in the Altis.
This temple was considered as the canon of Doric temple-building, due to its
stylistic clarity and the high quality of its workmanship. Built by the Elean
architect Libon after the reorganization of the Elean state around
Structure
It was a Doric peripteral temple, the largest in the Peloponnese. It had six
columns on the short sides (hexastyle pteron) and thirteen on the long
sides. Each column had 10.53m height and 2.25m minimum diameter. Although
these were the heaviest columns in Greece, they were designed with harmony and
symmetry. The entablature was 4.09m in height and symmetrically proportioned. It was
divided in architraves with broad surface, triglyphs, metopes and a cornice.
It was dedicated to the highest of the gods, Zeus, and it was decorated with various pieces of free-standing sculptures and reliefs. As the visitor stood in the main room (cella) of the temple faced the most famous cult statue of antiquity, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world: the gold-and-ivory statue of Zeus. It was built by the famous sculptor Pheidias, and depicted Zeus as the ruler of the world seated in an elaborated throne, holding a sceptre in his left hand and a "Nike" (Winged Victory) in his right hand. The eastern pediment of the temple portrays the mythical chariot-race between Pelops and the king of Pisa, Oinomaos. At the center of the pediment, Zeus judges the outcome of the contest. In the western pediment, the Centaurs fight the Lapiths: the first drank excessively during the wedding of the king of the Lapiths, and thus, attacked the women, girls and boys of the latter. Apollo, the son of Zeus, intervenes to restore order in favor of the human Lapiths. The reliefs of the metopes inside the Pronaos showed the "Labours of Herakles".
The most outstanding piece of art of the temple of Zeus was the chryselephantine statue of Zeus, stood in the main room of the temple (cella).
