Olympieion
The temple of Olympian Zeus, one of the largest temples of antiquity, with fifteen standing Corinthian columns near the Acropolis.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The sanctuary of Olympian Zeus lies between the Acropolis and the hill of Ardittos, on the banks of the Ilissos, and was one of the oldest sanctuaries in Athens. According to Attic tradition it had been founded by Deucalion. Construction of the great temple began around 515 BC under the Peisistratids, and Aristotle notes that the project served the purposes of tyranny, since it kept the citizens busy and wore them out.
The temple was completed by the Roman emperor Hadrian in 131–132 AD. Its completion, perhaps the most important work of the emperor in Athens, shows his affection for the city, which he wanted to present as a centre for all of Greece. The temple was in the Corinthian order, built of Pentelic marble, 107.89 metres long and 41.11 metres wide. It had 104 columns in total, with shafts 16.89 metres high.
The temple began to fall into ruin around the 5th century AD. According to Athenian tradition, in 1759 a column was burnt to make lime by order of the voivode Tzisdarakis, so that a mosque could be built in Monastiraki Square. Today fifteen columns stand upright, while another one fell in a storm in 1852 and lies on the ground.
Highlights
- Monumental Corinthian temple of Pentelic marble
- Fifteen standing columns
- The column that fell in a storm in 1852
- Sanctuary with a history from the Peisistratids to Hadrian
Permanent exhibition
- Ναός του Ολυμπίου Διός – Tour of the sanctuary and the remains of the largest temple of ancient Athens.
- Operated by
- Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Πόλης Αθηνών
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €20 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10 |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.
Tickets are also available from the online shop tickets.hh.gr.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The site is described as accessible.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ακρόπολη · 7-min walk
Metro Line 2, station “Akropoli” (about 7 minutes on foot); tram T6, stop “Leoforos Vouliagmenis”; buses 040, 230 and A2; trolleybuses 1, 2, 4, 5, 11 and 15.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
On site there are a ticket office, a shop and WC.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
