Temple of the Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is an ancient temple in Athens, the capital of Greece. The temple, one of the most important sanctuaries of Athens, is located southeast of the Acropolis and close to the center of Athens. Its construction began in the 6th century BC. and was completed in the 2nd century AD.
The foundations of the first temple were laid by the tyrant of Athens Peisistratos around 561 to 515 BC. but the work stopped after a while.
Work on the temple progressed in the 2nd century BC. by King Antiochus IV the Illustrious, however when Antiochus died in 164 BC. construction stopped again. The temple was finally completed between 131 – 129 BC. by the emperor Andrian. The temple consisted of 104 Corinthian columns, where each column was 17 meters high and 2.6 meters in diameter. The temple measured 96 meters x 40 meters and was made of Pentelic marble. Today only 15 of the original columns of the temple remain standing. In 1952 a strong wind knocked one over.
Andrian dedicated the temple to Zeus. In the temple there was also a large golden elephant statue of Zeus.
In the modern era, the temple was discovered by Francis Penrose of the British Archaeological School of Athens in the period 1889-1896, the German archaeologist Gabriel Welter in 1922 and by Greek archaeologists from 1960.
Temple of the Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is an ancient temple in Athens, the capital of Greece. The temple, one of the most important sanctuaries of Athens, is located southeast of the Acropolis and close to the center of Athens. Its construction began in the 6th century BC. and was completed in the 2nd century AD.
The foundations of the first temple were laid by the tyrant of Athens Peisistratos around 561 to 515 BC. but the work stopped after a while.
Work on the temple progressed in the 2nd century BC. by King Antiochus IV the Illustrious, however when Antiochus died in 164 BC. construction stopped again. The temple was finally completed between 131 – 129 BC. by the emperor Andrian. The temple consisted of 104 Corinthian columns, where each column was 17 meters high and 2.6 meters in diameter. The temple measured 96 meters x 40 meters and was made of Pentelic marble. Today only 15 of the original columns of the temple remain standing. In 1952 a strong wind knocked one over.
Andrian dedicated the temple to Zeus. In the temple there was also a large golden elephant statue of Zeus.
In the modern era, the temple was discovered by Francis Penrose of the British Archaeological School of Athens in the period 1889-1896, the German archaeologist Gabriel Welter in 1922 and by Greek archaeologists from 1960.