Temple of Olympian Zeus

Part of the archaeological site of the Olympeion, this temple used to be one of the greatest monuments of its age, as well as the largest temple in Greece. It was supported by 104 columns, each 17 meters tall.

Its construction started as early as the 6th century BC, under the rule of tyrant Pisistratus. Interestingly enough, it took another 8 hundred years to finish it, as the works on the temple were abandoned during the period of Greek democracy. Only under the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD were they finally brought to a close.

At this time, the temple featured two large statues: one of Zeus, the highest of Greek gods and the other of the Roman emperor.

Today, most of the temple has disappeared, either taken apart for building materials or destroyed. Only 15 of the original Corinthian columns are still standing. It is still worth a visit though if only to be able to imagine the sheer size it had to have during the peak of its glory.