History of Temple of Zeus

History of Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus's history began in the 6th century BCE when its construction started. It was one of the biggest temples in Greece. Each of the marble columns was more than twenty meters tall. The temple's marble columns have a diameter of 6 meters (20 feet). They are some of the biggest columns ever built. The column measures 18 meters (59 feet) tall from the bottom to the summit. There are 104 columns in total, distributed among 16 rows of eight columns each. Over the ages, the temple suffered damage from earthquakes. In the 5th century AD, it was finally abandoned. Many of the columns were removed and utilized in other buildings. The Hadrian's Library was constructed using the columns that were demolished by the Romans in the 2nd century CE. Only fifteen of the 104 original columns are still in place today. It is still a famous tourist attraction in Athens.

Historical Highlights of the Temple of Zeus

A Pleasant Refuge

One significant part of the Temple of Olympian Zeus's history was its function as a sanctuary for Athenians. Under Hadrian, a new neighbourhood was built around the Olympieion to supplement the Athenian Acropolis. The temple was a popular spot for local people to relax because of its beautiful surroundings. They liked to spend their peaceful time on the banks of the Ilissos around the temple, according to Plato's accounts of Socrates. Folks sat here and discussed about philosophical matters while sitting here with their "feet in the water."


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Hadrianopolis

Ancient Athens became the Roman Hadrianopolis when the Arch of Hadrian was built close to the Temple of Zeus. Greek inscriptions on the arch show how the city changed from being the land of Theseus to becoming the city of Hadrian. During this time, the old building was eventually finished and transformed into an octostyle dipteral temple with 104 Corinthian columns. Moreover, large ivory and gold cult figures of Zeus were placed in the temple. This created an illusion of strolling through a dense forest.

The Corinthian Order Capitals of the Olympian Zeus

Designed and created by the Roman architect Decimus Cossutius, the Corinthian capitals are an integral part of the history of Temple of Zeus. These stunning marble capitals were invented by Peloponnesians which combine natural-looking acanthus leaves with intricate designs. On every capital, a central stem rises to a flower that overlaps the abacus between the spiral scrolls going up. The designs were added under the Hellenistic construction period of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and were said to be inspired by baskets of growing acanthus plants. Only 15 of the original 104 capitals survive within the temple grounds today.


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Imperial Cult and Panhellenic Ambitions

Although the history of Temple of Olympian Zeus is a testament to the structure’s dedication to the Olympian King of Gods, the main intent was the worship of Hadrian. Since the construction was completed under the Roman Emperor, he promoted the Athenian place of worship as the base of an imperial cult in Eastern Greece. The Olympienion upon completion had four stone portraits of Hadrian at the entrance and a massive colossus behind the temple, signifying his influence and power. As he established Athens as the Panhellenic headquarters, he also constructed another temple dedicated to Zeus Panhellenios and Hera near the Olympienon to reinforce his importance.

Fallen Columns

Various attempts were made to obtain building materials from the incomplete project, which persisted even after it was completed. A new city wall was required when Athens experienced an attack by northern tribes about a century after the original construction. Stones from the Temple of Zeus were used to build the Valerian Wall. This procedure took ages and many iterations. Only 21 of the 104 original marble columns from the "Palace of Hadrian" had survived. After several earthquakes, just fifteen columns remain standing today.


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Stylite Monks

The existence of Stylite monks is one of the most interesting facts about the history of the Temple of Zeus. Over the past few decades, the temple's fifteen columns inspired many artworks. The majority of these include an odd construction located at the top of the historic marble columns. Records state that the columns were occupied by Stylite monks after the Byzantines used them as guard towers. In the 19th century, the monks settled at the tall columns to be nearer to God.


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The Temple of Zeus was Destroyed by an Act of God

- The construction of the Temple of Zeus is a monumental tale of ancient Greek architectural ambition.

- The project began in the 6th century BC under Peisistratos the Younger.

- The construction lasted nearly seven centuries.

- The temple's construction was finally completed under the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD.

- Hadrian also commissioned Hadrian's Arch nearby as a grand gateway.

- The arch would link the temple with the ancient city.

- Hadrian's Arch, completed in 131 AD, featured exquisite carvings and inscriptions.

- The arch celebrated Hadrian as the founder of Athens.

- The Temple of Zeus was located 500 metres southeast of the Acropolis.

- The temple originally had 104 colossal Corinthian columns, each towering at 15 meters.

- It was crafted from the pristine white marble of Mount Pentelicus.

- Today, only 15 of these impressive columns remain, with one lying intact on the ground.

- Each of these columns tells a story of past glories and the passage of time.


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Historical Splendor of the Temple of Zeus

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FAQ's of History of Temple of Zeus

When was the Temple of Zeus built?

The construction of the Temple of Zeus first began in 520 BCE under the Roman ruler Peisistratus. The process was stalled and restarted numerous times over six centuries, and the structure was finally completed in 131 CE under Emperor Hadrian.

What is the history of the Temple of Zeus?

The history of Temple of Zeus Athens starts in 520 BCE when construction was initiated by Roman ruler Peisistratus. After a gap of a few centuries, Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes restarted the process but was again stalled. Under Roman Emperor Hadrian, the temple was completed in 131 CE. It is believed that it was later destroyed in a sixth-century earthquake and was rediscovered in nineteenth-century excavations.

When was the Temple of Zeus destroyed?

Scholars differ on the timeline of the destruction of the Temple of Zeus. Earlier scholars believed that Roman Emperor Theodosius destroyed the temple by burning it down in 426 CE. However, recent excavations show that the structure was finally ruined in a sixth-century CE earthquake.

Is there any story of Fallen Columns?

Yes, the most well-known story about the Fallen Columns is that their stones were used for different construction purposes over the centuries. Since the sixteenth column fell during a nineteenth-century storm, only fifteen columns survive out of the original 104 marble structures.

How long did it take to build the Temple of Zeus?

It took more than six centuries to construct the Temple of Zeus. The construction began under the Romans in 520 BCE and was abandoned several times. It was finally during the reign of Emperor Hadrian that the temple was completed in 131 CE.

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