Ancient Wonder Of The World Was Built For A Strange Purpose

Of all the Seven Wonders of the World, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia just might have been the most magnificent. This shining monument to the chief of the Greek gods drew in enormous crowds in its heyday, but the masterpiece wasn't exactly built for the holiest purpose. It didn't last forever either. The giant, glittering god, like five of the other seven Wonders, suffered a dark fate, and experts are still piecing together what happened to this lost treasure.

An enduring reputation

Even thousands of years after its demise, the Statue of Zeus is still known as one of the best sculptures in ancient Greece. Built in fifth-century Olympia, the monument and its temple became the official place for worshipping the god of the skies. But that wasn't its only purpose.

Hosting the games

Prior to the Statue's construction, Olympia became host to the first Olympic Games. These athletic events were a part of a larger religious festival for Zeus, running every four years, like today. Organizers rejoiced in their smash success, though they did run into one recurring problem.

Getting more tourists

They could always use more money. Before one of the Olympic festivals in the fifth century, Elis — the city-state that controlled Olympia — wanted to draw in more visitors. They knew outsiders could give the local economy a bump. After some deliberation, a team decided building an elaborate temple for Zeus would appeal to pious Greeks.

Hunger for treasure

One important factor that influenced Elis was the city-state’s successful takeover of neighboring Pisa. They seized money from their rivals, and with their pile of treasure, they hired an architect named Libon to construct a Doric temple. The man made the building into something unforgettable.