Olympia Statue of Zeus

The Golden Statue of Zeus in Olympia: The Statue of Zeus in Olympia is rightfully regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This marvelous work of art was carved out by the famous sculptor Phidias in the 5th century BC. It was carved on a seated platform and the entire width of the aisle was exclusively built to house the statue, which was 40 feet (12 meters) high.

Zeus was being presented seating on a majestic throne made of the finest quality of cedar wood and plated with ivory, gold, ebony and numerous precious stones. Zeus had a miniature statue of Nike, the goddess of Victory, in his right hand, and an eagle in his left hand.

Plutarch, in his books, reports that the Roman General Aemilius Paulus was so much touched when he saw the statue as if he had witnessed god in person while the Greek orator Dio Chrysostom had said that one glimpse of the statue of Zeus would make a man forget his troubles.

There has never been any agreement on the exact cause of the statue's destruction. Some think that the statue was perished in the 5th century AD along with the temple itself while others argue that the statue was brought all the way to Constantinople where it was destroyed in the devastating fire of the Lauseion.