The Mythology Behind the Temple of Zeus, Olympia

Built in the 2nd quarter of the 5th century BCE in Olympia, the Temple of Zeus was a Doric order classical Greek temple built by the infamous architect Libon of Elis. Its construction began in 471 BCE and it was opened in 457 BCE, meaning that it took it a total of 14 years to be built. One of the most interesting things about this temple is its pediments - east and west – as the art and sculptures on them hold a significant meaning relating in some way or another to Zeus, the god of the sky and thunder and the king of all gods in Greek mythology whom this temple was dedicated to. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a pediment is “a triangular space that forms the gable of a low-pitched roof and that is usually filled with relief sculpture in classical architecture.” Both pediments included up to 42 figures in its gables, which are the triangular upper part of the roof, however, the exact order of these figures is not certain as of today.

To begin with, the East pediment portrays a scene relating to the Olympic Games in a sense, which typically took place at Olympia. According to Greek mythology Oinomaos, king of Pisa, organised a chariot-race where the winner would marry his only daughter, Hippodameia. Chariot-racing was one of the most famous sports in ancient Greece and was considered dangerous to both the rider and horses. Oinomaos had immortal horses and so all the suitors either lost to him or passed away, however, Pelops had a gold chariot pulled by winged-horses and had replaced Oinomaos’ bronze linchpins with wax ones and so he won the race. Therefore, the pediment shows Zeus in the middle with Pelops to his right, Oinomaos to his left, two female figures beside them, chariots ready to race and male figures, said to be spectators, sitting and lying to fit the narrow spaces.

As for the west pediment, it depicts a battle called a centauromachy, which was between the Centaurs and the Lapiths. As stated in Greek mythology, Centaurs considered themselves as parents to Pirithous, king of the Lapiths, and so he invited them, to his wedding feats. Centaurs drank wine for the first time ever there and got so drunk that one of them tried to rape Hippodamia, the bride of Pirithous, and so the battle broke out and the Lapiths kicked the Centaurs out of Thessaly. Depending on this story, Apollo is present in the centre of the west side of the pediment as he’s the god which represents rationality and self-control and so his presence symbolises restoring order.

In conclusion, both pediments illustrate scenes from stories of competitions and battles, with famous Gods being present in each of their centres. The East pediment represented the story of the chariot-race that Oinomaos held which began at the altar of Zeus, and the West pediment represented the centauromachy which started due to what has happened in the wedding feast of Pirithous, Zeus’ grandson