Phidias

Phidias Showing the Frieze of the Parthenon to his Friends (1868) by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Phidias, or Pheidias (about 480–430 BC) was a Greek sculptor, painter and architect. His statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

He also designed the statues of the goddess Athena on the Acropolis. These were the Athena Parthenos inside the Parthenon and the Athena Promachos, a bronze statue of Athena near the entrance to the Acropolis.

Phidias was twice accused of stealing some of the costly materials he used. He was accused of taking some of the ivory for the Athena Parthenos; and at Olympia, of stealing some of the gold for Zeus' cloak.^[1] A false witness against Phidias testified. Phidias died in prison. Today, most critics and historians consider him one of the greatest of ancient Greek sculptors.^[2]^[3]

Phidias Media

In this painting by artist Paul Delaroche, Phidias is depicted enthroned on the right.
The Varvakeion Athena, a Roman-era statue of Athena Parthenos considered to be the most faithful reproduction of the chryselephantine statue made by Phidias and his assistants, as displayed in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens
The workshop of Phidias at Olympia (2005)
Head of Aphrodite. Phidian style
Zeus in Olympia, representation on coin
A copy of a work by Phidias or one of his pupils: head of Athena, found around Pnyx, now in the National Archeological Museum of Athens
Reconstruction of Athena Lemnia, Dresden
Head of Athena, Roman copy

References

↑ Romer, John. The Seven Wonders of the World. The Statue of Zeus. p. 17.
↑ "Phidias". Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
↑ Bertrand Russell, The History of Western Philosophy, Chapter 10, Protagoras, page 95

[1] Romer, John. The Seven Wonders of the World. The Statue of Zeus. p. 17.

[2] "Phidias". Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-07-27.

[3] Bertrand Russell, The History of Western Philosophy, Chapter 10, Protagoras, page 95

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