Temple of Zeus at Olympia
Design + materials used
Decorations
Myths associated + why
Symbol of power
Built on a plinth
Have to look up at it, creates awe
Cult statue
Chryselephantine (gold and ivory)
Built after the Persian war
Holds a smaller statue of Nike, symbolises victory over the Persians
Made of local limestone
Cheaper
Metopes
12 tasks of Heracles
Eastern Pediment
Western Pediment
Chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos
Centauromachy
Centauromachy, Lapiths fighting centaurs after the centaurs were uncivilised at a wedding, symbolises victory over the Persians, temple was built after victory over the Persians, Greeks are the Lapiths (civilised), Persians are the centaurs (uncivilised, animalistic)
Chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos, Oinomaos was told that if his daughter gets married he'll die, challenges suitors to a chariot race, if he wins he kills them, Pelops replaces Oinomaos' lynch pins with wax, gets thrown out and dies, Pelops marries his daughter and sets up funerary games, possible founding of the Olympic games which were held near the temple
12 tasks of Heracles, Heracles was Zeus' son, makes Zeus look good
Built East to West so the sun shines into it
13m tall, creates awe
One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world
Centauromachy, symbolises victory over the Persians, Greeks are the Lapiths (civilised), Persians are the centaurs (uncivilised, animalistic)
Altar outside made of ash and bits of sacrificed animals, ends up at least 7m tall