History of Temple of Zeus

The role it played as a place of refuge for Athenians was an important aspect of the history of Temple of Olympian Zeus. A new neighbourhood was developed around the Olympieion under Hadrian to add to the Athenian Acropolis. The temple was situated on the banks of River Ilissos and was surrounded by lush greenery, which made it a place for Athenians to relax and stroll. Plato’s records of Socrates indicate how the banks of the Ilissos around the temple were preferred by locals as a place to spend quiet time. People could sit here with their ‘feet in the water’ as they discussed philosophical affairs.

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The construction of the ceremonial Arch of Hadrian near the Temple of Zeus marked the transition of ancient Athens into the Roman Hadrianopolis. Greek inscriptions on the arch indicate how the city went from the land of Theseus to being the city of Hadrian in the first century CE. About the history of Temple of Zeus Athens in this period, the ancient structure was finally completed into an octostyle dipteral temple with 104 Corinthian columns. A massive cult statue of Zeus made of ivory and gold was installed on the premises, creating an illusion of walking through a dense marble forest for visitors.

Designed and created by the Roman architect Decimus Cossutius, the Corinthian capitals are an integral part of the history of Temple of Zeus. These stunning marble capitals were invented by Peloponnesians which combine natural-looking acanthus leaves with intricate designs. On every capital, a central stem rises to a flower that overlaps the abacus between the spiral scrolls going up. The designs were added under the Hellenistic construction period of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and were said to be inspired by baskets of growing acanthus plants. Only 15 of the original 104 capitals survive within the temple grounds today.

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Although the history of Temple of Olympian Zeus is a testament to the structure’s dedication to the Olympian King of Gods, the main intent was the worship of Hadrian. Since the construction was completed under the Roman Emperor, he promoted the Athenian place of worship as the base of an imperial cult in Eastern Greece. The Olympienion upon completion had four stone portraits of Hadrian at the entrance and a massive colossus behind the temple, signifying his influence and power. As he established Athens as the Panhellenic headquarters, he also constructed another temple dedicated to Zeus Panhellenios and Hera near the Olympienon to reinforce his importance.

The history of Temple of Zeus Athens is marked by numerous attempts to acquire building materials from the unfinished structure, which continued even after its completion. Almost a century after the construction, Athens saw an invasion by northern tribes and needed a new city wall. The Valerian Wall was built by obtaining stones from the Temple of Zeus, a process that was repeated countless times over centuries. In fifteenth-century records, only 21 of the original 104 marble columns had survived in the ruins of the ‘Palace of Hadrian’. Subsequent felling and earthquakes led to the survival of only 15 columns to the present day.

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Among the most intriguing details of the history of Temple of Zeus is the existence of Stylite monks. The fifteen columns of the temple have inspired numerous artworks over the last few decades, most of which depict a strange structure atop the ancient marble columns. There are records mentioning that the columns were used as watch towers by the Byzantines of late antiquity and later taken over by Stylite monks. Their first mentions are found in the early nineteenth century when the monks made their homes atop the high columns to be closer to God. The monks are said to have lived there for more than a century before they disappeared from the premises.