Temple of Olympian Zeus

Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus was a ruined temple dedicated to Zeus, located in the heart of Athens, the capital of Greece, 700 meters south of Syntagma Square and 500 meters southeast of the Acropolis. It was begun in the 6th century BC, intended to be the greatest temple in the ancient world, and was finally completed 638 years later, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. During the Roman Empire, it was the largest temple in Greece and housed the largest statue of the ancient world.

After being sacked by barbarians in the 3rd century AD, the temple was abandoned. Over the centuries following the fall of the Roman Empire, many of its stones were taken for use in other buildings. Today, its ruins remain a major tourist attraction in Athens. Only 16 grand marble columns of the Temple of Olympian Zeus still stand solemnly, including one that fell during a storm in 1852, silently telling stories of history and mythology. It is said that the temple once housed a gigantic statue of Zeus made of gold and ivory, but after more than 2,000 years, no trace of the statue remains today.

Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens

Must-visit reason: One of the temples housing one of the world’s largest statues

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Greece[Greece]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Attica Region [Attica Region]

City where the attraction is located: Athens [Athens]