Add TravelTriangle to

Homescreen for quick access

Tap to bring up your browser menu and select "Add to home screen" to pin the TravelTriangle web app

Got It

Temple of Olympian Zeus, Greece

The King of Gods

About Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens

The temple of Olympian Zeus is a colossal temple right at the centre of Athens dedicated to Zeus, the king of Olympian gods in Greek mythology.

The temple was commissioned by Peisistratus in the 6th century BC, but the construction was halted due to lack of funds. The temple saw multiple starts and pauses by various rulers until it was completed in the 131 AD by Hadrian, a 700 year completion period. The temple upon its completion Hadrian placed a colossal statue of Zeus and himself made of Gold and Ivory right next to each other in the temple. It is believed that the ancient Greeks left the temple unfinished as they thought it was too big and a symbol of arrogance by comparing people to Gods. The temple had a colossal 104 Corinthian columns.

The temple of Olympian Zeus lies 500 m to the south-east of the Acropolis and is built on an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Zeus. The current temple began its constructions after the earlier temple was demolished by the sons of Peisistratus. Before Hadrian completed the temple, the construction was begun once again in 174 BC by Antiochus IV Epiphanes and placed roman architect Decimus Cossutius at the helm of the project. The temple was again left half-finished with the death of Decimus. It is assumed that the temple was brought down by an earthquake or during the Herulian sack of Athens in 267 A.D. and the temple was never repaired after that. The material from the temple was later used in the construction of nearby monuments.

Similar Destinations

Thessaloniki

Santorini

Places To Visit In Athens

Let the experts guide you to the best of this mesmerizing destination

View All

Parthenon Temple In Athens
The Parthenon is the crown jewel of the Acropolis of Athens and a testament to the prosperity of ancient Athens. Dedicated to Goddess Athena after whom the city is named, Parthenon has been the centre of the history of this city and has seen countless battles and owners staking claim to this magnificent monument built on to...
Temple
Sightseeing
Nature
Temple Of Olympian Zeus
The temple of Olympian Zeus is a colossal temple right at the centre of Athens dedicated to Zeus, the king of Olympian gods in Greek mythology. The temple was commissioned by Peisistratus in the 6th century BC, but the construction was halted due to lack of funds. The temple saw multiple starts and pauses by various rulers ...
Temple
Sightseeing
Nature
Erechteion Temple In Athens
The Erechtheion temple is an ancient Greek temple in the ancient Citadel of Acropolis built during the 5th century BC dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. The Erechtheion temple was commissioned by Pericles during the golden age of the city of Athens after the Persians were defeated. The temple was designed to house the w...
Sightseeing
Nature
Leisure Time
Temple of Hephaestus In Athens
The temple of Hephaestus earlier known as Theseion is a temple dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of fire, sculptors, metallurgy, blacksmith, craftsmen and everything encompassing creation and art in Greek mythology. The temple was earlier attributed to Athenian hero Theseus, but later the inscriptions in the temple confirmed...
Sightseeing
Nature
Leisure Time
Odeon Of Herodes Atticus In Athens
Built at the base of the Acropolis, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a hub of theatre experience in Athens. The fully restored site has a sitting capacity of 5000 people and has been hosting theatrical performances, musical concerts, orchestra performances and even operas. The open-air theatre has captivated the modern popul...
Sightseeing
Nature
Leisure Time

Things To Do In Athens

Your list of the best things to do, compiled on the basis of actual traveler experiences

View All

Nightlife In Athens
The city of Athens is known for its lively nights and not even the Greek economic crisis was able to stop people from turning up at the bouzouki live music halls. Athens Nightlife is something that holds immense importance for the local people as was evident from the 1994 protests against the ‘early’ closure of bars and nig...
Adventure
Nature
Leisure Time
Theatre Of Dionysus
The theatre of Dionysus is considered to be the world’s first theatre. As the name goes, the theatre itself is dedicated to the Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine. The theatre was built around 6th century BC and renovated in the 4th century BC to accommodate a total of 17000 spectators. The theatre underwent modernization ...
Sightseeing
Nature
Leisure Time
The Agora In Athens
Agora in Greek stands for the marketplace or a meeting place. The Agora in ancient Greek city-states was the central public space that was the soul of the city-state. The general populace mingled and interacted in the Agora while the statesmen met for policy making. Vendors put up stalls and artists performed for the crowd....
Sightseeing
Nature
Historical
Skydive In Athens
Athens is a popular tourist destination because of its extensive history and significance in European culture and mythology. For a long time, tourist have been coming to Athens to take in a bit of human history and the magnificence of its historic structures. Athens has grown to cater to all possible needs of the modern day...
Adventure
Sightseeing
Skydiving

How To Reach Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens

Read about the best & quickest routes to save time & money, as suggested by our travelers

View Details

Fastest Growing Holiday Marketplace

650+

Verified Agents

22 Lac+

Happy Travellers

65+

Destinations

Easy, Secure & Reliable

Traveltriangle

Verified

Stringent

Quality Control

24/7

Support

Want best packages handpicked just for you?

Fill the form and get a callback from our holiday experts

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Your Answers - before you plan your trip.

FAQ's of Athens

Who excavated the temple site?

The temple was excavated by Francis Penrose, Gabriel Welter and Ioannes Travlos.

Are there any nearby monuments?

Yes, there is the Arch of Hadrian which acted as a gate between the ancient city and the Roman Athens.

How big are the columns?

The columns are 17 m in height and 1.7 m in base diameter.

Rated 4.60/5 ( based on 114 reviews )

Popular Travel Searches›

Honeymoon Packages

International Honeymoon Packages

Tour Packages by Theme

Tour Packages

International Tour Packages

Family Tour Packages

International Family Tour Packages

Group Tour Packages

International Group Tour Packages

Tourism Guides

Places to Visit in India

Top Attractions in India

Top Activities in India

International Tourism Guides

Top International Attractions

Top International Activities

Places to Visit Internationally

Things to Do in India

Things to Do Internationally

Best Time to Visit (India)

How to Reach (India)

How to Reach (International)

Best Time to Visit (International)

Travel Blogs & Tips

Explore Kerala

Trending Kerala Pages

Explore Travel Blogs

Corporate Office

Holiday Triangle Travel Private Limited

Plot No - 52 , 3rd Floor,

Batra House, Sector 32,

Gurugram - 122001 , Haryana

Landline: 1800 123 5555

Email: customercare@traveltriangle.com

Made with

in India