2006-10-03 11:31:14 · 6 answers · asked by gate123456789p 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
The Statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire in Constantinople(modern day Istanbul, Turkey). Only the ruins of the temple remain.
2006-10-10 23:16:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
World Wonder: Statue of Zeus
Location: Olympia, Greece 150 km west of Athens
Information: The Statue of Zeus was destroyed in a fire in Constantinople (modern day Istanbul, Turkey). Only the ruins of the temple remain.
Built: About 457 B.C.
History: In about 450 B.C., the city of Olympia -- where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. -- built a temple to honor the god Zeus.
Many considered the Doric-style temple too simple, so a lavish 40-foot statue of Zeus was commissioned for inside. Athenian sculptor Phidias created an ivory Zeus seated on a throne, draped in a gold robe. Zeus had a wreath around his head and held a figure of his messenger Nike in his right hand, and a scepter in his left.
Eventually, wealthy Greeks decided to move the statue to a palace in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey). Their effort prolonged its life, as fire later devastated the Olympia temple. However, the new location couldn't keep Zeus eternally safe: A severe fire destroyed the statue in 462 A.D.
All that remains in Olympia are the temple's fallen columns and the foundation of the building.
Hope this helps. Goodluck!
2006-10-10 11:01:46 · answer #2 · answered by ~Charmed Flor~ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There were hundreds of statues of Zeus -- think of how many pictures of Jesus there are in any Christian country. If you mean the great statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was stolen when one or another of the rampaging armies overran the place -- its "clothing" was actually gold and the "flesh" was ivory, a technique called "chryselephantine". Both materials were too valuable to be safe once the guards were driven away.
2006-10-05 18:30:14 · answer #3 · answered by Dick Eney 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Christians destroyed it because it looked like Jesus.
That and they wanted the precious metals and gems in it. Also time got to it, it was rotting from the inside.
2006-10-03 15:01:44 · answer #4 · answered by dougluvn 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One theory is that it was carried off to Constantinople, where it would later be destroyed in a great fire.
2006-10-04 06:19:21 · answer #5 · answered by jugghayd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I swear, i was just looking at it....it was a cheap fake anyway.
2006-10-03 14:24:42 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋