The massive temple of Zeus, the most important building in the Altis, standing in its very centre, is the largest temple in the Peloponnese, considered by many to be the perfect example of Doric architecture. It was built by the Eleans from the spoils of the Triphylian war and dedicated to Zeus. Construction began c. 470 and was completed before 456 BC, when an inscribed block was let into the east gable to support a gold shield dedicated by the Spartans in commemoration of their victory at Tanagra. The architect was Libon of Elis; the sculptor of the pediments is unknown.
Built not as places of mass worship, but rather as homes for the deities, Ancient Greek temples were symbols of a Ancient Greek city’s status, culture and achievement. Though the earliest ancient Greek temples would have been made of wood or mud brick, by around the 6th century BC the stone and marble structures which have come to epitomise these temples began to appear, with the best examples such as the Parthenon being built in the 5th century BC.
Ancient Greece, temples were not places of worship but monuments dedicated to the beloved gods and goddesses. Many important ancient greek temples are located in Greece and other countries, such as Italy, which were then part of the ancient Greek empire.
Temple of Olympian
The Temple of Olympia Zeus in Athens it does not take much imagination to realize that this was one gigantic temple. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 638 years after the project had begun.
Temple of Apollo Epicurius
The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae is not the first to occupy the site artifacts have been discovered that date to the seventh century B.C., and votive offerings from far earlier it was completed a handful of years before the Parthenon, making it the oldest remaining temple from Classical Greece. Its isolated location at 3,710 feet above sea level on Mount Kotilion in the Peloponnese was instrumental in its preservation through the centuries; it simply would have been too much work to loot the temple's stone and use it to build new places of worship in developing population centers.
Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus, dedicated to the god of metal-working and craftsmanship, is located in Athens, Greece. The temple was designed by Ictinus, one of the Parthenon’s architects. The Temple of Hephaestus is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world.
Temple of Zeus at Cyrene
Cyrene was the most important monuments of the five Greek colonies in present-day Libya. High up from the rest of the city, lies the Temple of Zeus, dating back to the 5th century BC. It was destroyed during a Jewish rebellion in 115 AD, and was restored 5 years later by the Romans on order of Emperor Hadrian. In 365 AD an earthquake reduced the temple to rubble once more and it was not rebuilt until modern times by British and Italian archaeologists. This temple is larger than the Parthenon, a reflection of the wealth and importance of Cyrene in the ancient Greek world.
Built not as places of mass worship, but rather as homes for the deities, Ancient Greek temples were symbols of a Ancient Greek city’s status, culture and achievement. Though the earliest ancient Greek temples would have been made of wood or mud brick, by around the 6th century BC the stone and marble structures which have come to epitomise these temples began to appear, with the best examples such as the Parthenon being built in the 5th century BC.
Ancient Greece, temples were not places of worship but monuments dedicated to the beloved gods and goddesses. Many important ancient greek temples are located in Greece and other countries, such as Italy, which were then part of the ancient Greek empire.
Temple of Olympian
The Temple of Olympia Zeus in Athens it does not take much imagination to realize that this was one gigantic temple. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 638 years after the project had begun.
Temple of Apollo Epicurius
The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae is not the first to occupy the site artifacts have been discovered that date to the seventh century B.C., and votive offerings from far earlier it was completed a handful of years before the Parthenon, making it the oldest remaining temple from Classical Greece. Its isolated location at 3,710 feet above sea level on Mount Kotilion in the Peloponnese was instrumental in its preservation through the centuries; it simply would have been too much work to loot the temple's stone and use it to build new places of worship in developing population centers.
Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus, dedicated to the god of metal-working and craftsmanship, is located in Athens, Greece. The temple was designed by Ictinus, one of the Parthenon’s architects. The Temple of Hephaestus is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world.
Temple of Zeus at Cyrene
Cyrene was the most important monuments of the five Greek colonies in present-day Libya. High up from the rest of the city, lies the Temple of Zeus, dating back to the 5th century BC. It was destroyed during a Jewish rebellion in 115 AD, and was restored 5 years later by the Romans on order of Emperor Hadrian. In 365 AD an earthquake reduced the temple to rubble once more and it was not rebuilt until modern times by British and Italian archaeologists. This temple is larger than the Parthenon, a reflection of the wealth and importance of Cyrene in the ancient Greek world.
