Characteristics |
- Ancient Greeks worshiped Zeus, king of
gods, and held regular festivals there at Olympia (they included athletic
competitions)
- First Olympic Games were probably held
in 776 B.C.
- In 5 th century B.C., the citizens of
Olympia decided to build a temple to Zeus
- For some years it did not have a proper
statue of Zeus
- Philidias was chosen to create a statue
of Zeus
- He had Zeus seated on a throne inlaid
w/ ebony and precious stones
- Viewing
platforms were built along the walls so that people could climb up
and see the god’s face
- About 40 A.D., the Roman emperor Caligula
wanted to have the statue moved to Rome
- According
to a legend, when the workers went to move it, it let out a bellow
of laughter and the workers fled
- Years later, the statue was shipped off
to Constantinople
- In 462 A.D., the palace was destroyed
by fire
- Olympia was shaken by earthquakes in
the 6 th century
- Temple and stadium destroyed by landslides
and floods, and remains are covered in mud
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