STATUE OF ZEUS AT OLYMPIA

ONE OF THE GREEKS MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVALS IN HONOR OF THE KING THEIT GODS, ZEUS.  LIKE OUR MODERN OLYMPICS FOLKS CAME HERE TO COMPETE FROM MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.  THE OLYMPICS CAME HERE TO COMPETE.COUNTRIES.  THE OLYMPICS STARTED IN 776 B.C. AND WERE HELD AT A SHRINE TO ZEUS.  IT WAS ON THE COAST OF GREECE.

THE STATUS OF ZEUS IN THE TEMPLE OF OLYMPIA STOOD MORE THAN 40 FEET HIGH!  THE GAMES INCREASED IN IMPORTANCE AT A LARGER TEMPLE WORTHY OF THE KING OF GODS WAS NEEDED.  BETWEEN  470 AND 460 B.C. THEY BUILT A NEW TEMPLE.  THEY BUILT TEMPLES ON 13 LARGE COLUMNS.  ON THE INTERIOR THEY BUILT A STATUE OF ZEUS- ONE OF 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD.  THE ARTIST TOOK 12 YEARS TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.  WHEN FINISHED THE STATUE WAS AT THE WESTERN END OF THE TEMPLE.  IT WAS 40 TALL AND 22' WIDE.

IN 97 A.D. ANOTHER SAID THE STATUE WAS SO POWERFUL THAT "IF SOMEONE HAD A HEAVY HEART FROM SORROW,  HE WILL FORGET ALL THESE."  ZEUS'S RIGHT HAND HELD A SCEPTOR WITH MANYKINDS OF METAL AND WAS TOPPED WITH AN EAGLE.  HIS THROWN WAS MADE OUT OF GOLD EBONY, AND IVORY.  THE STATUE HAD A BEARD , HAIR AND ROBE OF GOLD.  CONSTRUCTION OF THIS STATUE WAS GOLD PLATED BRONZE AND IVORY SECTIONS.  THEY NEEDED TO PUT OLIVE OIL ON THE IVORY SOIL SO IT WOULD NOT CRACK.  IT WAS KEPT IN A SPECIAL RESERVOIR WITH A REFLECTING POOL.  TODAY THE STADIUM HAS BEEN RESTORED, BUT LITTLE IS LEFT OF THE TEMPLE.  ALL OF THE ZEUS STATUE IS NOW GONE.

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