When the sculptor Phidias was exiled from Athens for suspicion of embezzlement in the sculpting of his statue of Athena in the Parthenon, he ended up in Olympia where he was commissioned to do the statue. It was 40 feet high even though seated on a throne. The statue had a wood core covered by ivory for the flesh and gold for the garments. Phidias also used silver, copper, glass, ebony, enamel, paint, and jewels for details. Zeus holds a goddess of victory in one hand and a staff with an eagle atop in the other. The platform had “Phidias, son of Charmides, made me” on it. In front of the statue was a pool of olive oil. It provided moisture to keep the ivory from cracking but also provided a divine reflection. The statue was removed to Constantinople after the Roman Emperor Theodosius banned worship of the old gods. (According to legend, Caligula had earlier proposed bringing it to Rome but Zeus laughed so loud he caused the workers on the scaffolding to fall.) It burned in a fire around 462.
– Amazing 207 / Statue of Zeus at Olympia by Mark Cartwright
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