Statue of Zeus
The Statue of Zeus stood in Olympia and was perhaps the most famous sculpture in ancient Greece.

The Greek sculpture Phidias created the 12-m(40-ft) tall Statue of Zeus in about 435 B.C. Phidias made the god's robe and ornament from gold and carved the body out of ivory.

Olympia was where the Olympics were first thought of and started. Every 4 years, the Olmpics were held to celebrate and pay tribute to Zeus. When people came to watch the Olympics they admired the Statue of Zeus.

The Temple of Zeus has been damaged many times. It was burnt down in 426 A.D. on the order of Theodosius II. Later, in 522 and 551 earthquakes destroyed it and many other buildings, as the fallen columns on the south sides. Not many columns stands today, while architectural fragments lie all around.

Zeus was the supreme ruler of Mount Olympus and of the Pantheon of gods who resided there. Zeus was a celestial god, and originally worshiped as a weather god by the Greek tribes.