goldenshower
The Zeus' Temple
Zeus' Temple was constructed between 470 and 456 BC. It is the largest temple on main-land Greece, and was constructed using the funds provided by the Elean defeat of the neighboring Pisa. The architect of the Olympian Temple of Zeus was a local man named Libon, who designed the structure in pure Doric style. The structure is made of limestone, coated with a fine white stucco and hard marble roof tiles. Altogether, there are thirty-four columns in the entire colonnade, six of which are located on the east facade. Leading up to the east facade is a masonry ramp supported by a three-step stylobate.
look columns
There are thirty-four white, stucco-style columns that surround the Olympian temple. Each column stands 17 meters tall. Each column has beautiful carvings of foilage and flowers.
enter
The Interior
The Interior of Zeus' Olympian Temple is a spacious courtyard surrounded by the thirty-four columns. Most noticeable inside the courtyard is the beautiful tiled floor and massive statue of Zeus in the center.    Twelve pictures depicting the labors of Heracles line the walls of the courtyard
look heracles pictures
On each side of the interior courtyard of Zeus' Temple is six pictures. Each one depicts one of the twelve labors of Heracles. Visitors to the temple can not only pay homage to Zeus, but also recall the heroism of one of Zeus' sons, Heracles as he: killed the Nemean lion, killed the Hydra, captured the Cerynitian hind, captured the Erymanthian boar, cleaned the Augean stables, removed the Stymphalian birds, captured the Cretean bull, brought back the Thracian horses, brought back the girdle of Hippolyte, brought back the cattle of Geryon, brought back the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, and captured the Cerberus.
look tile floor
The floor of the interior courtyard of the temple is made of baked pentilic marble, cut into the shape of square tiles. It is a grayish color, much like the rest of the temple.
look statue
The statue of The King of the Greek Gods, Zeus, was created in the 430s AD by the Greek sculptor Phidias. The statue of Zeus is the central figure of the temple; a towering structure made of ivory and gold. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, it stands 40-feet tall.
@exits
Obvious exits:  Out and Down.
down
The Basement
The basement of Zeus' Olympian Temple is 41.1 meters wide by 107.75 meters long. This spacious basement is lit dimly by dozens of candles. There are altars spread throughout the basement for followers of Zeus to kneel and pray.  An Altar is here.
look altar
The alters are made of solid oak. They are low to the ground, so that followers can pray on their knees or actually sit on the alter.
up
The Interior
out
The Zeus' Temple
east
The East Pediment
On the east pediment of the Temple of Zeus is depicted the race between the Pelops and Oenomaos which began at an altar of Zeus at the temple. Specifically, the scene is of the two contestants swearing an oath after Oenomaos announces the rules of the race. As the story has been told, the chariot race about to take place is to determine the winner of Oenomaos' daughter in marriage. The depiction seen on the east pediment is made of limestone statues of Zeus in the center (overseeing the race), Pelops, Oenomaos, his daughter Hippodameia, and her mother Sterope.
west
The West Pediment
The scene represented on the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus is the depiction of the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs at the wedding of Peirithoos and Deidameia. As the story has been told, the Centaurs were invited to the wedding feast, but had a very low tolerance for wine. The half-man-half-animal creatures soon got drunk and tried to carry off the Lapith women. The sculpture on the west pediment shows the Greek heroes Theseus and Peirithoos trying to rescue the women from the Centaurs. The central character in the sculpture is Apollo, who points out the Centaur-chief, who is trying to rape the bride.
@exits
Obvious exits:  Front.
front
The Zeus' Temple