In Olympia, Greece there was once a temple built to honor the
head god, Zeus. It was built in about 457 B.C.
Inside the temple is a marvelous statue. It is of Zeus. Standing
at 40 feet (13 meters) high is the statue. The base itself was
20 feet (6.5 m) wide and 3 feet (1 m) high. Held in his right
hand is the figure of Victory. A scepter and eagle lays in his
left.
The statue was built because the temple was not fancy enough.
The Athenian sculptor Phidias made the statue. Phidias was criticized
for making the statue so big, but many people today think the
size made it so wonderful.
The Greeks decided to move the giant statue from it's original
site to lengthen it's Life. They moved it to Constantinople. The
moving of it did prolong it's life, for later the Olympia temple
fell. However, about 462 A.D., a fire destroyed the statue of
Zeus.
