DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
EXHIBITIONS
INFORMATION
PHOTOGALLERY
 
 
 
<<Exhibitions
| Description | | Exhibits |

Permanent exhibition of the Olympia Archaeological Museum

Zeus is the central figure of the pediment, which is surrounded by Pelops and Oinomaos
East pediment of Zeus temple

The pedimental sculptures of the temple of Zeus are among the finest examples of the Severe Style of the early Classical period. They are the work of an unknown artist, conventionally dubbed 'creator of Olympia'. The east pediment, which stood over the temple's main entrance, depicted the chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos. Zeus presides over the race flanked by the groups of Pelops-Hippodameia and Oinomaos-Sterope. The heroes' quadrigae (four-horse chariots), servants, charioteers and diviners complete the composition, along with the reclining personifications of Olympia's rivers, the Alpheios and the Kladeos, at the angles. Although static and autonomous, the figures, fifteen in all, betray the tension before the tragic end of the race, which Pelops, founder of the dynasty of the Pelopides, wins, while Oinomaos is killed in accordance with the oracle.

Exhibit Features
Date: Classical period, 470 B.C. - 456 B.C.
Place of discovery: Olympia, The pediment statues were found east of Zeus temple.
Dimensions: length: 26,39 m (pediment length), height: 3,15 m (maximum)
Material: parian marble
Inventory number: Λ 50-64
Exhibition hole: Central hall (5)
 
 
 
Glossary
pediment
 
 
 
Mythological / Historic Persons
Alpheus
Hippodameia
Oinomaos
Zeus
 
 
 
  Suggestive Bibliography
 
Olympia III, Berlin, 1894, σσ. 36, 44-67, πίν. IX, X, XII, XIII, ΧΙV, XV
 
Λεονάρδος B., Ολυμπία, Αθήνα, 1911, 268-271
 
Ashmole B., Yalouris N., Olympia. The Sculptures of the temple of Zeus, London, 1967
 
Παπαχατζής Ν., Παυσανίου Ελλάδος περιήγησις: Μεσσηνιακά-Ηλιακά, Αθήνα, 1979, 244-247
 
Mallwitz A., Herrmann H.V., Die Funde aus Olympia, Αθήνα, 1980, 161, 167-173, Taf. 120-123
 
Herrmann H.-V., Die Olympia Skulpturen, Αθήνα, 1987
 
Γιαλούρη Α., Γιαλούρης Ν., Ολυμπία. Το μουσείο και το ιερό, Αθήνα, 1991, σ. 103-116, 140-143
 
Καλτσάς Ν., Ολυμπία, Αθήνα, 1997, 66-71
 
Ανδρόνικος Μ., Ολυμπία. Ο αρχαιολογικός χώρος και το μουσείο, Αθήνα, 2000, 54-57
 
Αραπογιάννη Ξ., Ολυμπία. Η κοιτίδα των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων, Αθήνα, 2001, 94-101
 
Τριάντη Ι., Βαλαβάνης Π., Ολυμπία και Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες. Τα μνημεία τώρα και τότε, Αθήνα, 2004, 86-88
 
Βικάτου Ολυμπία, Ολυμπία. Ο Αρχαιολογικός Χώρος και τα Μουσεία της., Αθήνα, 2006, 78-86
 
Γεωργία Εμμ. Χατζή, Το Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ολυμπίας, Αθήνα, 2008
 
 
 
Other views
View of Pelopas' statue, surrounded by Zeus and Ippodameia
View of Hippodameia and Pelopas quadriga from the east pediment of Zeus temple
View of the complex Oinomoas - Sterope
Aged seer from the east pediment of Zeus temple