Olympia is known as the first home of athletics, where many remains of Ancient Olympics are located. In addition, the masterpiece of the ancient architecture?the Temple of Zeus is also a special scenery here. The Temple of Zeus was designed by Albino. It was constructed on 470 B. C. The Temple of Zeus was built with carved mottoes and tryingly friezes. They’re many sculptures in the Temple of Zeus. These sculptures were curved between 480 B. C and 450 B. C, when the severe style was popular. The pediments and mottoes on the top of the temple clearly showed the typical supreme and unparalleled creation of severe style at that age.
On the west pediment of the temple, the sculptures showed a picture of chaos. It presented a battle between the Centaurs and Lappet people. The battle happened on the wedding of a Lappet hero called: Proprietors. The Centaurs was drunk and tried to abduct the bride called: Diameter, which infuriated the Lappet people. They started grappling with the Centaurs. The battle fluctuated from the center to the ends of the crowed and back again. Apollo stood in the center of the chaos. He represents the rule. We can see Apollo stand still in the middle of the west pediment, which strongly contrasts with his surroundings.
This refer to that Apollo bring rule to the chaotic people. From the pediment, we can see the struggle between savagery and civilization. The Centaurs itself can show the struggle. Its upper body is the same as human being, which meaner they can think and talk. However, its lower body is the same as the horse. The Centaurs is a paradox of savagery and civilization. The west pediment of the temple also showed a struggle between savagery and civilization. Apollo strongly contrasts with his surroundings. Apollo represents the civilization, while the rest sculptures of the pediment stand for the savagery.
The west pediment of the Temple of Zeus shows a picture of battle, on the contrary, the east pediment show a race between Plops and Minoans. Plops is the grandson of Zeus. He wanted to marry Monomania’s daughter. However, Minoans was given a prophecy that he would be killed by his son-in-law. In order to prevent it, he asked everyone who wanted to marry her daughter to race against him. In fact, Plops and Hippodrome have already fallen in love. With the help of Poseidon and Monomania’s daughter, Plops won the race. He saved Monomania’s daughter from the burning palace. Plops unified Elis and captured Olympia.
They got married. Their wedding was hosted in front of the Temple of Zeus. There are many races such as wrestling and chariot. Their wedding is also regarded as the first Ancient Olympic game. Plops becomes the founder of Olympic in the classical mythology. When the Olympics began, people from different parts of Greek came to attend the event. This event shows the Pan-Hercules unity. When we talk about the Pan-Hellenic of unity, there’s an important character?Hercules. Hercules is the hero of Greek. His original name is Locales. Hercules is the son of Zeus and People’s granddaughter?Elegance.
Out of envy, Hear took advantage of Restructures, the grandson of Plops, to force Hercules to finish Twelve Labors. Eventually, Hercules finished the Twelve Labors, which also made him famous among the Greeks. After Hercules died, Zeus named him Hercules. Hercules achievements are also parts of the Pan-Hercules unity. In addition to the sculptures on the pediment of the Temple of Zeus, there is another sculpture inside. It’s the Statue of Zeus. The Statue of Zeus was built with gold and ivory by Paddies. The Statue is 12 meters high. Zeus sits on the throne adorned with Sphinx, Nikkei and any other mythological characters.
Zeus wears an olive crown which is made of gold. He holds a truncheon on his left hand which stands for the power and a figurine of Nikkei on his right hand. There’s an eagle standing on the top of the truncheon, which is also the symbol of Athena. The surrounding of Statue of Zeus was carefully designed by Aphid’s, including the light reflected from the gate of the temple can make the face of the Status more beautiful. The material used to build the Status of Zeus can tell us the Glory of Zeus. Moreover, the accessories made of gold and ivory, represent the power of Zeus.
The thorn adorned with many other mythological characters can show the leading position of Zeus among the Gods and Goddesses. It took eight years to finish the Statue of Zeus. If we see the map of the sanctuary of Olympia, we can find that The Temple of Zeus was located in the center of the map, which shows the important position of Zeus. The sculptures of the Temple of Zeus show the struggle between savagery and civilization. Moreover, it shows the Pan-Hellenic unity and hope of Greeks. All of these celebrate Zeus importance in classical mythology and praise the glory of Zeus.
