The Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as the Olympion, is a grand ruined temple in the center of the Greek capital dedicated to Zeus, leader of the Olympian gods. It began to be built in the 6th century. BC e., during the reign of the Athenian tyrant Pisistratus, who planned to create the largest building in the world, but it was never completed until the beginning of the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century. n. e., 650 years after the start of work.
The temple is located 500 m southeast of the Acropolis and a few blocks south of Syntagma Square. Construction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus began in 520 BC. e. on the site of the destroyed Temple of Pisistratus. The construction of the Temple was entrusted to the sons Hippiasom and Hipparchosom. They were going to surpass two famous modern temples, the Heraion at Samos and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which was one of the Seven Wonders Ancient World. Designed by the architects Antistates, Kallaeshrous, Antimachides and Porinus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was to be built from local limestone in the Doric style on a huge platform measuring 41 m by 108 m. It was flanked on two sides by colonnades of eight columns in front and behind, and 21 in sides
Work was suspended when the tyranny was overthrown and Hippias was expelled in 510. Only the platform and some elements of the columns were completed by this time, and the Temple remained in this state for another 336 years. The temple remained unfinished during the years of Athenian democracy, apparently because the Greeks considered it impossible to build on such a scale.
This continued until 174 BC. e., when Antiocus IV Epiphanius, presenting himself as the earthly incarnation of Zeus, revived the project and appointed the architect Decimus Cossutius to lead it. It was then decided to surround the Temple with three rows of eight columns at the back and front of the temple and double rows of twenty columns on the sides, for a total of 104 columns. The columns were supposed to be 17 m high and 2 m in diameter. The building material was also changed to expensive but high-quality marble, and the order was changed to Corinthian. However, the project was suspended until 164 BC. e. due to the death of Antiocus.
In 124-125 AD, when Emperor Hadrian arrived in Athens, a program began to build a number of structures, one of which was the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Cossutius's design was implemented with some modifications and the temple was officially opened by Hadrian in 132 AD. e., receiving the name "Panellenios". The temple and adjacent monasteries were decorated with numerous statues depicting Hadrian and the gods. A statue of Hadrian stood behind the building in honor of the imperial generosity. A statue of Zeus, made of gold and ivory, occupied a central place in the temple. The shape of the statue was unusual, since the use of gold and ivory was considered something archaic for that time. It was initially believed that Hadrian deliberately copied the famous statue of Athena of the Parthenon in an attempt to draw attention to the temple and to himself as the creator.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus was seriously damaged by the sack of Athens in 267. Its reconstruction was unlikely, especially given the extent of the damage. And in 425, the Temple was completely closed by the Christian Emperor Theodos II, when he forbade obedience to the old Roman and Greek gods. The building's building materials were used for the basilica, which was built in the 5th-6th centuries. n. e. By the end of the Byzantine period, the Temple was almost completely destroyed.
Fifteen columns have survived to this day and sixteen more lie on the ground, having fallen during a storm in 1852. Nothing remains of the great statue. The temple was excavated in 1889-1896. Francis Penrose, who also supervised the restoration of the Parthenon, and subsequently in 1922 by the German archaeologist Gabriel Welter and in the 1960s. Greek archaeologist Ioannes Travlos. The temple today is under the control of the Greek Ministry of the Interior.
While searching for the Temple of Zeus, you will find two different structures built in honor of the lord of the Greek gods. There are ruins of the once great Temple of Zeus at Olympia, as well as the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens. The Abode of Zeus at Olympia was built between 470 BC. and 456 AD, and Zeus in Athens was built much longer - from the sixth century BC to the second century AD. Although both of them are practically destroyed, they still speak eloquently of the glory of the ancient one.
Myths and facts
The structure was erected on the site of a previous, more ancient temple. Construction began in 515 BC, led by the tyrant of Athens, Peisistratus. Peisistratus was the son of Hippocrates and led Athens for a long time. When Hippias, the son of Pisistratus, was overthrown after 5 years of his reign, work on the structure was abandoned. With the advent of the period of Athenian democracy, the temple remained unfinished - the Greeks at that time believed that the construction of such a grandiose structure was an act of arrogance.
The history of the Temple of Zeus continued to develop when Alexander the Great took control of Athens and in the 3rd century BC. construction was resumed. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of the Hellenistic dynasty, entered into a contract with the Roman architect Cossutius to build the largest. However, in 164 BC. work stopped again when Antiochus died. It was only in the second century AD (129-131) that the construction of the sanctuary was finally completed by Hadrian. It is worth noting that Hadrian also installed two huge statues in the center of the building: one depicting Zeus, the other - Hadrian himself.
Olympia is the site of the first Olympic Games, and the Temple of Zeus at Olympia was one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but was destroyed by an earthquake in the 5th century.
What to see
The building was built in a rectangular shape, with six large columns on the front and back sides and 13 columns on each side. It was a classical structure with sculptures and moldings by an unknown master of Olympia. In the center of the temple was a statue of Zeus, impressive in size and magnificence, by the Greek sculptor, artist and architect Phidias. The seated Zeus occupied almost the entire hall. The Greeks considered those who had never seen this statue of Zeus unfortunate. They say that when Caligula wanted to move the statue of Zeus to his home in Rome, the statue laughed and the workers fled in horror. Unfortunately, the statue has not survived to this day.
In Athens there is also the goddess of war, the winged protector of the city. And in Delphi you can see the sanctuary of the son of Zeus -. However, like Zeus, many buildings in Greece are dedicated to Apollo.
The Temple of Zeus in Athens is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.00 to 19.00, on Monday from 11.00 to 19.00 in summer; in winter - from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 to 14.30, on Monday from 11.00 to 14.30.
Cost: single ticket to visit the Acropolis - 12 €, valid for 7 days.
How to get there: located in the center of Athens, the main entrance is near Dionysius Areopagitou Street. The nearest metro stations are Acropolis (10 min. walk) and Monastiraki (15 min. walk).
Ancient Greece, which is the birthplace of modern democracy, a country that has given the world many philosophical teachings, fundamental scientific discoveries and the greatest works of art, was not a brilliant kingdom of truth, but a conglomeration of large and small city-states and tribes, constantly fighting among themselves.
Computer reconstruction of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia
The most insignificant reasons could cause many years of bloody hostility. However, once every four years an event occurred that forced this boiling cauldron to subside. These were pan-Greek sports competitions, the famous Olympic Games, named after the city of Olympia in the region of Elis (Peloponnese), in which they took place.
Olympia
During the Games in Hellas, all wars ceased. The best athletes of Greece, thousands of fans gathered here, kings, diplomats and other statesmen came here to discuss issues of peace and war. They did not have to fear for their safety, since everyone who arrived at the Games was considered “guests of Zeus.” First of all, they all visited the main and most famous sanctuary of Hellas - the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Since ancient times, Olympia has been a place of worship of Zeus. Sacred Grove, Altis, was fenced with a wall back in the Mycenaean era. Within the enclosure there were a number of sanctuaries, of which the Temple of Zeus was the most revered. Pilgrims came here from all lands inhabited by the Greeks, including Italy, the Black Sea region, Africa and the Persian possessions. In Altis, numerous statues of gods and winners of the Olympic Games were installed, as well as, according to Greek legend, an arch that exactly matched the height of the founder of the Olympic Games, Hercules.
History of construction
The first altar of Zeus was erected here in the 10th-9th centuries. BC e., and the construction of the now legendary grand temple of Zeus at Olympia began around 472 BC. e. The work was supervised by the local architect Libon. The best craftsmen of Greece took part in the construction. The recent victory over the Persians united all the cities of Hellas in a patriotic outburst, and monetary donations for the construction arrived from all over the country.
No expense was spared during construction. The best types of stone and wood from the entire Hellenic world were brought to Olympia. Even the roof tiles, which were always made of clay, were marble. The main material for construction was local hard shell rock, which was covered with marble plaster. The best sculptors of Greece sent their creations to decorate the temple.
The work was completed in 456 BC. e. After completion of construction, the Temple of Zeus at Olympia appeared as a truly magnificent structure. The main decoration of the temple was the giant statue of Olympian Zeus by the famous Athenian sculptor Phidias. The scale of the statue was so grandiose that the original plan of the building had to be changed for its sake.
Temple architecture
Only ruins remain of the temple, but eyewitness accounts and large quantities of fragments of stone blocks and statues preserved make it possible to reconstruct its appearance.
Reconstruction of the temple
The Temple of Zeus at Olympia was a classic peripterus - a type of quadrangular building surrounded on all sides by columns. A powerful four-meter foundation was buried in the ground, on which a three-stage foundation rested. The size of the upper platform of the base, the stylobate, was 64 by 28 meters.
The temple colonnade consisted of 38 slender Doric columns with 20 flutes (longitudinal grooves). There were 6 columns at the ends of the building, 13 on the sides, their height was 10.43 meters. Some of the columns have been completely recreated, and their appearance suggests that the Temple of Zeus at Olympia is one of the earliest buildings in the classical style. In previous eras, the columns were made somewhat thicker in the middle, as if it was difficult for them to carry the roof and frieze with images of gods and heroes. The columns of the Temple of Zeus have completely smooth, straight silhouettes; they do not succumb under the weight of the roof, but lift it into the sky. This gave the building unprecedented harmony.
Above the end columns there was a row of metopes - marble slabs with images of gods and heroes. Above, on the pediments, scenes from Greek myths were presented. On the eastern pediment there was a sculptural group depicting the competition of the mythical Oenomaus and Pelops, watched by Zeus, and on the western pediment there was a battle between the Lapiths and the centaurs in the presence of Apollo. Numerous pediment sculptures varying degrees preserved to this day and amaze with their expression and art of execution.
The entire structure was crowned by a gilded figure of Victory, installed in the center of the pediment, and gilded bowls stood at the edges. Marble lion heads were mounted on the sides of the roof, serving as amulets for the temple.
Interior
In the interior, the building measured 28 x 13 meters. We went up to the temple not by steps, but by a gentle ramp. Upon entering the naos, the inner hall, the visitor found himself in front of one of the most remarkable works of Greek sculpture, the colossal statue of Olympian Zeus, considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
Zeus was depicted sitting on a throne mounted on a massive stepped pedestal. The pedestal symbolized Olympus, so gilded statues of gods were located on its steps. The Thunderer himself held in one hand a scepter crowned with an eagle, and in the palm of his other hand stood a golden statue of Nike. The height of the statue of Zeus was about 10 meters. It seemed that if God stood up, he would be higher than the temple itself.
The throne was made of ebony, decorated with precious stones and overlays of gold and ivory. The statue itself was made in the so-called chrysoelephantine technique. The frame was made of wood, on which plates of gold and ivory were attached. In this case, the gold parts represented clothing, and the ivory parts represented open parts of the body.
On the sides of the hall there were galleries from which one could see the Thunderer, being literally at the level of his head. To support the powerful roof, 4 more rows of 7 columns were installed in the room, between which statues of gods and heroes were placed.
The fame of the new temple quickly spread throughout the ancient world. Gifts flocked here both from Hellenic cities and colonies, and from barbarian rulers. Poets presented their poems in front of the temple, sculptors exhibited their creations. It was here that the “father of history” Herodotus first read publicly excerpts from his work.
The further fate of the temple
For many centuries the flow of pilgrims to the temple did not dry out. The Romans who conquered Greece highly revered the sanctuary, identifying Zeus with their supreme god Jupiter. All emperors who visited Greece considered it their duty to visit Olympia. In the Roman era, the pediments of the temple were decorated with gilded shields.
Ruins of the Temple of Zeus
The existence of the sanctuary of Zeus, like many others, was put to an end by the spread of Christianity. The zealous Christian Emperor Theodosius in 406 ordered the destruction of all the buildings of Olympia as pagan, and in the 6th century powerful earthquakes completed what Theodosius had begun. The statue of Zeus was taken to Constantinople, where it died in one of the fires that were frequent in those days.
Now there are only ruins on the site of the temple. However, numerous sculptures kept in the Olympia Museum and fairly accurate reconstructions make it possible to imagine how grandiose and majestic the temple of Zeus in Olympia was.
Zeus - Olympian god, the thunderstorm of all, the thunderer, to whom statues, bas-reliefs, temples are dedicated, this is one of the most wrathful Greek deities.
It was in his honor that the largest temple throughout the country was erected. In ancient times, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was more majestic than the Parthenon itself. It was in it that once there were gilded ivory sculptures that emphasized the status of Zeus and his divine origin.
Construction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus began in 515 BC during the reign of the tyrant Peisistratus. The temple began to function only in 132 AD, under Emperor Hadrian.
It is difficult to describe the grandeur of the temple in Hellenic times. He's all his appearance emphasized the grandeur of the architectural thought of the ancient Greeks and their ability to create real masterpieces from stone. Even the remaining foundation of the temple gives us an idea of the scale of construction. For example, each of the marble pillars was 17 meters high! Currently, out of 104 Corinthian columns, only 15 stand. But they also make us understand how grandiose and majestic the temple was during the period of its existence.
On the east and west sides of the temple there were sculpted pediments, each of which depicted scenes associated with the Olympic Games. Although the temple bore the name of the great Zeus, initially his statue was not there. His statue is made of pure gold, precious stones and ivory was made by the Athenian sculptor Phidias using the chrysoelephantine technique in 435 BC.
Emperor Hadrian, having completed the construction of the temple, was awarded great honor by the citizens of Athens - an arch was erected in his name. The Greeks have always been able to honor those who increase the wealth of the country and emphasize its greatness.
The temple was destroyed in the 4th century, but its ruins still hold memories, and the remaining Corinthian columns stand like sentinels, guarding the peace of the great Greek God- Zeus.
Amphipolis
In the vicinity of Amphipolis, traces of settlements dating back to the 3rd millennium BC were discovered. The importance of this place is evidenced by the fact that the Persian king Xerxes, having invaded the territory of Macedonia in 480 BC, chose it for sacrifice, which, according to ancient authors, consisted of nine young men and nine girls. However, this did not save the king of kings, and a year later the remnants of Xerxes’ army were defeated here, at Amphipolis, by the forces of the Macedonian king Alexander I.
Fire in Thessaloniki
It will be ninety-four years since the great fire that broke out on August 18, 1917 in August. The disaster caused by the fire was enough to radically change the general appearance of the city of Thessaloniki, which no longer in any way resembled that symbol of the 19th century. The fire in the city lasted about 33 hours, turning 9,500 houses into ashes - 31% of the city's area, resulting in more than 70 thousand population were left homeless. The objects of the disaster were many spiritual, religious institutions, business, administrative offices and shops, which were buried under the ashes. Among the buildings burned were the post office, the telegraph office, the city hall, the Ottoman Bank, the National Bank, the building of the Bank of Athena, the Church of St. Demetrius and two others Orthodox churches, eleven mosques, Archiravvineia with all archives of 16 of 33 synagogues. Also the publishing houses of most newspapers were damaged (Thessaloniki had the largest number of newspapers published in Greece), many of which could not be republished, while the unemployment rate reached 70%.
Meteora in Greece. Holy Monastery of Rusanu
In the northeast of the Great Meteor and between the monasteries of Varlaam and the Holy Trinity, the monastery of Rusanu is located. At the foot of this mass, a strong feeling of fear grips the visitor as he looks at the almost vertical cliffs. The Rusanov Monastery in all its grandeur stands on the top of a cliff in an open place that can hardly accommodate it.
Ancient Agora in Athens
The ancient Agora played a big role in cities Ancient Greece. It was spiritual, administrative, as well as shopping mall cities. From the beginning of the sixth century, in connection with the reorganization of the state by the legislator Solon in 594 BC, the Agora began to play a vital role in the life of the city.
Heirs of Hermes
The first thing you notice when arriving in any Greek city is that Greeks are emotional. No, not even like that: Greeks are “excessively” emotional
The Temple of Olympian Zeus was the most big temple in Greece, the construction of which took more than seven centuries. Construction of the Olympion began in the sixth century BC, during the Archaic period. But the temple was finally completed only in the second century AD, during the Roman era. Construction began in 515 BC on the orders of the tyrant Peisistratus, but stopped just five years later when the tyrant's son was overthrown. During the subsequent democratic period, the temple was considered a symbol of oppression and work was stopped.
History of the Temple of Zeus
Construction resumed in 175 BC, under the reign of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He hired the Roman architect Cossucius to design the big temple in the world. Unfortunately, 10 years later (in 164 BC) Antiochus died and work stopped once again. In 132 n. e., during his second visit to Athens, Emperor Hadrian decided to complete the temple and dedicate it to Olympian Zeus. 
The Temple of Zeus became the center of a new area called Adrianopolis. The Olympion was the largest temple in Ancient Greece, even larger than the Parthenon. The structure was originally designed in the Doric style, with two rows of eight wide columns in width, and two rows of 21 columns in length. Cossucius significantly modified the original design. He added Corinthian pilasters and also changed the arrangement of columns, while maintaining the original number. Emperor Hadrian decided to choose this design and strictly follow it. 
Today, only fifteen of more than a hundred large columns, 17.25 meters high, have survived. The Sixteenth Column was destroyed in a terrible storm in 1852, but its ruins still lie where it fell. The columns, two meters in diameter, were built from marble from the Pentelic quarry. They surrounded the cella, in which were placed two large statues: a gold and ivory statue of Zeus and a statue of the Emperor Hadrian. The statue of Zeus was an exact copy of the statue of Zeus created by the famous Greek sculptor Phidias in Olympia. Unfortunately, none of the statues have survived to this day.
Arch of Hadrian
In 131 AD, the Athenians built a closed arch in honor of Emperor Hadrian. The eighteen-meter-high arch is located northwest of the temple. It is engraved with two sentences. The inscription on the side of the Acropolis reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus." The other side of the arch overlooks the temple and the part of the city built by Hadrian, and the inscription indicates that “This is the city of Hadrian, not Theseus.” The inscriptions refer to the founders of the new and old city of Athens: the arch symbolically divided the old city (founded by the mythical hero Theseus) and the new city of Adrianopolis, founded by the Roman emperor Hadrian. 
Several other structures in the Temple of Zeus complex were discovered during excavations at Olympaeion, including Roman baths from the 130s and several temples from the same period.
