Temple of Olympian Zeus also known as Olympeion

Athens, Greece

Ναός του Ολυμπίου Διός

The ruins of ancient Temple of Zeus are located in the centre of Athens. It was built out of marble from Mount Pentelus and consisted of 104 Corinthian Columns. Only 15 of them remain standing today.

The construction of the temple began in the 6th century BC. Roman Emperor Hadrian brought it to completion seven hundred years later in the 2nd century AD. Hadrian dedicated the temple to Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus was known to the Romans as Jupiter.

Inside the temple, there was a giant statue of Zeus made of gold and ivory and an equally large statue of Hadrian himself. Nothing remains of these statues today.

The temple was destroyed by an earthquake in the Middle Ages.

Arch of Hadrian is located near the temple. It was a gate between the ancient city and the Roman City of Athens.

August 10, 2006

01Hadrians Arch	02Temple of Zeus	03	04	05
06Hadrians Arch from Temple	07	08	09	10
11 Grapes	12	13	14