February 19, 2009
The Original Seven — #3: The Statue of Zeus at Olympia “In his right hand a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold. In his left hand, his scepter inlaid with all metals, and an eagle perched on the sceptre. The sandals of the god are made of gold, as is his robe.”— Pausanias the Greek (2nd century AD) Zeus, seated, measured nearly 40 feet high – a wooden structure adorned with ivory and gold on a throne of cedar. Zeus looked on as all of ancient Greece celebrated him with the Olympic Games. The Temple of Zeus was built specially for the statue in Olympia around 432 AD. Historical accounts of the great statue recall men inspired to believe they were in the presence of the God himself. The depiction by Phidias, perhaps the greatest Classical sculptor, was inspired by Homer’s Iliad — likely written around the time Phidias was born. His Zeus made the original Seven Wonders of the World, but it’s not his only important work. Phidias was commissioned to build a statue to commemorate the Battle of Marathon (most famous for inspiring marathon races), and created a bronze Athena that could be seen far out at sea from the Acropolis (most famous for the Parthenon). He also paid tribute to Apollo at Delphi, a place of great importance to Greeks, with a sculpture of the sun god. Phidias has the posthumous honor of being assigned the mathematical constant known as the Golden Ratio (or “phi,” after Phidias) which he employed in his works. Renaissance artists believed the ratio made works more beautiful. The triangles that compose the great pyramids, such as Giza, nearly conformed to the golden ratio long before it was understood by men. Life was not all good for Phidias. Friend of embattled Athenian statesman Pericles, he found himself in jail facing various accusations, eventually dying there awaiting trial. His most famous statue was destroyed some 600 after it was built, as the Temple of Zeus was ordered torn down by a Christian Byzantine ruler and earthquakes took their toll on the ruins. Some believe the statue itself was spared destruction and moved to Constantinople, only to be lost in a great fire. The statue required great maintenance to prevent crumbling of the ivory in humid Greece.

The Original Seven — #3: The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

“In his right hand a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold. In his left hand, his scepter inlaid with all metals, and an eagle perched on the sceptre. The sandals of the god are made of gold, as is his robe.”
— Pausanias the Greek (2nd century AD)

Zeus, seated, measured nearly 40 feet high – a wooden structure adorned with ivory and gold on a throne of cedar. Zeus looked on as all of ancient Greece celebrated him with the Olympic Games. The Temple of Zeus was built specially for the statue in Olympia around 432 AD. Historical accounts of the great statue recall men inspired to believe they were in the presence of the God himself.

The depiction by Phidias, perhaps the greatest Classical sculptor, was inspired by Homer’s Iliad — likely written around the time Phidias was born. His Zeus made the original Seven Wonders of the World, but it’s not his only important work. Phidias was commissioned to build a statue to commemorate the Battle of Marathon (most famous for inspiring marathon races), and created a bronze Athena that could be seen far out at sea from the Acropolis (most famous for the Parthenon). He also paid tribute to Apollo at Delphi, a place of great importance to Greeks, with a sculpture of the sun god.

Phidias has the posthumous honor of being assigned the mathematical constant known as the Golden Ratio (or “phi,” after Phidias) which he employed in his works. Renaissance artists believed the ratio made works more beautiful. The triangles that compose the great pyramids, such as Giza, nearly conformed to the golden ratio long before it was understood by men.

Life was not all good for Phidias. Friend of embattled Athenian statesman Pericles, he found himself in jail facing various accusations, eventually dying there awaiting trial.

His most famous statue was destroyed some 600 after it was built, as the Temple of Zeus was ordered torn down by a Christian Byzantine ruler and earthquakes took their toll on the ruins. Some believe the statue itself was spared destruction and moved to Constantinople, only to be lost in a great fire. The statue required great maintenance to prevent crumbling of the ivory in humid Greece.

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