The Temple of Olympian Zeus (), also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a colossal ruined temple in the centre of the Greek capital Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods.

The building was demolished after the death of Peisistratos and the construction of a colossal new Temple of Olympian Zeus was begun around 520 BC by his sons, Hippias and Hipparchos.

Designed by the architects Antistates, Callaeschrus, Antimachides and Porinus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was intended to be built of local limestone in the Doric style on a colossal platform measuring 41 m ( 134. 5 feet ) by 108 m ( 353. 5 feet ).

In 124-125 AD, when the strongly Philhellene Hadrian visited Athens, a massive building programme was begun that included the completion of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus was badly damaged during the Herulian sack of Athens in 267.

* Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Temple of Olympian Zeus website

* The Temple of Olympian Zeus, about 3 km outside the city, built around 6th century BC.

* The Temple of Olympian Zeus is completed at Athens.

* The Temple of Olympian Zeus ( Athens ) is completed using Cossutius ' design.

Its length was 110 m, and its breadth 55 m, so that it was actually longer than the great Temple of Olympian Zeus at Agrigentum, though not equal to it in breadth.

The largest by far is the Temple of Olympian Zeus, built to commemorate the Battle of Himera in 480 BC: it is believed to have been the largest Doric temple ever built.

** Temple of Olympian Zeus ( Athens )

More impressive depictions of the Gigantomachy can be found in classical sculptural relief, such as the great altar of Pergamon, where the serpent-legged giants are locked in battle with a host of gods, or in Antiquity at the Temple of Olympian Zeus at Acragas.

** 2006-12-23 — Analemma over the Temple of Olympian Zeus

The idol of Olympian Zeus was placed on the altar of the Temple.

* The reconstruction of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Such figures were used on a monumental scale, notably in the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Agrigento, Sicily.

* The number of Corinthian columns in the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple ever built in Greece.

Two other major religious sites, the Temple of Hephaestus ( which is still largely intact ) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus or Olympeion ( once the largest temple in mainland Greece but now in ruins ) also lay within the city walls.

The ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

The Roman emperor Hadrian, in the 2nd century AD, constructed a library, a gymnasium, an aqueduct which is still in use, several temples and sanctuaries, a bridge and financed the completion of the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Munich, copy from original, 460 BC at the Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Greece | Olympia, Greece

In the Temple of Hera at Olympia, Hera's seated cult figure was older than the warrior figure of Zeus that accompanied it.

The cult in the Temple of Artemis ( Diana ) at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World possibly originated with the observation of a meteorite fall which was understood by contemporaries to have fallen to the earth from Zeus, the principal Greek deity.

* Temple of Zeus: photo album and description

ca: Temple de Zeus Olímpic ( Atenes )

An excellent example of this are the 39 remaining lion-headed water spouts on the Temple of Zeus.

This development had a direct effect on the sculptural decoration of temples, as many of the greatest extant works of Ancient Greek sculpture once adorned temples, and many of the largest recorded statues of the age, such as the lost chryselephantine statues of Zeus at the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and Athena at the Parthenon, Athens, both over 40 feet high, were once housed in them.

The Severe Classical style ( 500-450 BC ) is represented by the pedimental sculptures of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, ( 470-456 BC ).

The scene appears to have filled the space with figures carefully arranged to fit the slope and shape available, as with earlier east pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympus.

The Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean cultures are represented, and the Greek collection includes important sculpture from the Parthenon in Athens, as well as elements of two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesos.

* Temple, Robert, " Fables, Riddles, and Mysteries of Delphi ", Proceedings of 4th Philosophical Meeting on Contemporary Problems, No 4, 1999 ( Athens, Greece ) In Greek and English.

* 449 BC: Construction begins on the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens.

* The Temple of Goddess Athena on the Acropolis of Athens is sacked.

Temple of Hephaestus, a Doric order | Doric Greek temple in Athens with the original entrance facing east, 449 BC ( western face depicted ).

A classic statement of the Greek Doric order is the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, built about 447 BC.

* The Temple of Theseus is completed in Athens.

* A relief decoration from the parapet ( now destroyed ), Nike ( Victory ) adjusting her sandal is constructed in the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis in Athens and is ready in 407 BC.

* Callicrates starts to build the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis in Athens ( approximate date ).

* The Temple of Poseidon is completed south of Athens at Cape Sunion.

Construction begins on the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, while the Athenian Senate commissions Callicrates to construct a temple to Athena Nike on the Acropolis.

" Hephaestion " is the name of the Temple of Hephaestus overlooking the Ancient Agora of Athens, near the Acropolis, a name which hardly appears at all in Macedon at this time period.

Renowned in the South were the Masonic Temple and the Athens Theater, both still very active today.

The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens is the best-preserved of all ancient Greek temples.

The architectural style of the capital city of ancient Rome was emulated by other urban centers under Roman control and influence, like the Verona Arena, Verona, Italy ; Arch of Hadrian, Athens, Greece ; Temple of Hadrian, Ephesos, Turkey ; a Theatre at Orange, France ; and at several other locations, for example, Lepcis Magna, located in Libya.

* Temple, Robert, " Fables, Riddles, and Mysteries of Delphi ", Proceedings of 4th Philosophical Meeting on Contemporary Problems, No 4, 1999 ( Athens, Greece ) In Greek and English.

The park's main entrance, modelled on the Temple of Illysus in Athens, and its ' Roman Boathouse ' are notable features.