Temple of Olympian Zeus

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  • Address
    Vas Olgas, Syntagma
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  • Phone
    210 922 6330
  • Transport
    underground rail: Akropoli

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The Temple of Olympian Zeus is is the largest in Greece. The temple was begun in the 6th century BC by Peisistratos, but was abandoned for lack of funds. Various other leaders had stabs at completing the temple, but it was left to Hadrian to complete the work in AD 131. It took more than 700 years to build.

Hadrian put a colossal gold and ivory statue of Zeus in the cella and, in typically immodest fashion, placed an equally large one of himself next to it.

Hadrian's Arch once linked a thoroughfare past the Lysikrates Monument along the Street of Tripods, where tripod trophies were dedicated to Dionysos by winners of ancient drama contests. Made of Pentelic marble, it was erected in honour of Hadrian in AD132, after the consecration of the temple.

The foundations of a small Doric temple dedicated to the ancient cult of Olympian Zeus (590-560BC) also lie on the site.