Art

Considered as the most eminent building and a model of canonical Doric architecture (Robertson 80), the Temple of Zeus stands at the very centre of the Altis in Olympia, Peloponnese Greece. It was built by the Eleans from the rewards of the Triphylian war (Elean conquest of the Pisatans, 470BC).  This temple was dedicated to the god of the sky and ruler of Gods, Zeus, who was immemorially worshipped in the Altis (Robertson, 79). It was constructed between 470BC to 456BC by architect Libon of Elis and was the first great monument of classical art and architecture at Olympia, site of the Olympic Games (Kleiner, 119).
   
This hexastyle temple was constructed with limestone and white stucco with a wooden ceiling. It also comprised of thirteen columns (10.43mtrs high, 2.25mtrs in diameter-base) at the sides with an east-west orientation. The roof tiles and lions head water spouts were made of Parian marble. The temple had three rooms-the pronaos, naos and opisthodomos. The pronaos constituted of the throne of Arimnestos and a statue of Iphitos. At the centre of the naos (at the centre of the aisle) stood the chryselephantine statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World built by sculptor Phidias in 435BC. The statue was carved with ivory and covered in gold plating. The throne was made of cedar wood, emblazoned with ivory, gold and precious stones. A small statue of Nike in the right hand and an eagle perched on the left hand of the sculpture. The opisthodomos was a place for the public to assemble. The east pediment of the temple depicts the Olympic games-chariot race between Oinomaos and Pelops. At the centre of the pediment was the judge, Zeus. To his right stood Oinomaos and Sterope and to his left were Pelops and Hippodamia. They were followed by the racers chariots, horses, servants and the river gods Kladeos and Alpheios. The west pediment of the temple depicts the wedding feast of Peirithoos, King of Lapith. At the centre of this pediment was Apollo with statues of Peirithoos and Theseus on either side fighting to save the guests from centaurs.
   
According to Martin Robertson, the decorated metopes of the temple of Zeus stand above the front and rear porches depicting the twelve labours of Herakles. Figure sculptures consisted in twelve metopes and in two gables (80). The metopes were carved in Perian marble between 470 and 457BC. Six metopes (1.6mtrs high and 1.5mtrs across) stood on either side of the temple over the porches of pronaos and opisthodomos. The temple was burnt on the orders of Theodosius II in 426AD and was finally destroyed in 5th century AD in an earthquake. As Kleiner describes, today the structure is in ruins, its picturesque tumbled column drums an eloquent reminder of the effect of the passage of time on even the grandest monuments humans have built (119).
   
Herakles (or Hercules-the glory of Hera) was the greatest and the most popular hero of ancient Greece. His deeds of bravery are notable in tales, sculptures and paintings of the primordial world. Born in Thebes, Herakles (born out an illicit affair) was the son of Zeus and Alcmene. Though Zeus wished to have Herakles as the King of Mycenae, Hera (Zeus wife) delayed his birth so that his cousin Eurystheus could be born earlier and crowned as king. As Heras hatred for Herakles grew, she sent two serpents to his cot when he was a baby. At the first display of his power, Herakles strangled both the snakes. When Herakles grew, he saved Thebes from an attack by a lion in Mt. Kithairon. In return, he was given King Kreons daughter Megara in marriage. Herakles was living happily with his family. But as Heras hatred grew for Herakles, she sent him into a fit of madness due to which Herakles killed his wife and children. When he recovered, he went to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi to rid him of the crime. God Apollo sent him to work for King Eurystheus and perform the 12 heroic labours the king would set for him which would cleanse the evil from his spirit. As Cohen states, it was Eurystheus, King of Mycenae for whom Herakles performed his labours wherein Eurystheus gained power and control over Herakles only because of Goddess Hera (90-91).
   
The metopes of the Temple of Zeus depict the 12 labors of Herakles. West Side of the Temple, over the opisthodomos

The Nemean Lion (1st) The ferocious king of beasts had impenetrable skin and was thus invulnerable to weapons. Herakles mustered all his courage and killed the lion using his own hands. On the metope, divine protector Athena and the messenger God Hermes stand by the victorious Herakles.
The Lernaean Hydra (2nd) The hydra was a vicious sea creature with a monstrous body and 9 heads (8 mortal, 1 immortal). It had ruined a swamp near Lerna and was destroying the cattle and countryside in the plains. Herkales was constantly attacked by a crab while trying to kill the serpent. Hence with the help of his nephew Iolaos, he cut the necks of the snake and Iolaos seared them with fire, finally burying the immortal head. The metope depicts Herakles and the hydra.

The Keryneian Hind (3rd) Herakles chased the hind for a year finally capturing it by firing an arrow on its leg. It was sacred to Artmeis and hence brought back live to Mycenae. Athena assisted Herakles in this endeavour. The metope depicts Herakles holding the hind.

The Stymphalion Birds (6th) Herakles was asked to remove the man-eating birds which had infested Lake Stymphalis in Arcadia. He first scared them by clashing bronze castanets on a mountain. As the birds flew, he killed them with his slingshot. The metope depicts Herakles showing off his prowess to Athena.

The Cretan Bull (7th) Herakles was sent to Crete to catch a notorious bull called Minotaur who roamed around wild and caused great havoc. Herakles captured the bull unaided and brought it to Eurystheus in Mycenae who set it free again. The metope depicts Herakles with the notorious bull.
The girdle of Hippolyte (9th) Admete, daughter of King Eurystheus desired the belt of Ares (God of war) which Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons, possessed as a mark of superiority above women. Herakles was sent to acquire the belt which he did by killing Hippolyte in a battle (though Hippolyte agreed to give the belt, Hera tricked Herakles by telling everyone that he was kidnapping Hippolyte due to which a battle took place). The metope depicts Herakles killing Hippolyte.

East Side of the Temple, over the pronaos
The Erymanthain Boar (4th) The boar was causing havoc at Mt. Erymanthos and was ordered to be bought back live by King Eurystheus. Herakles captured the boar and carried it over his head to a king who himself hid in a jar. The metope depicts the heroism of Herakles.

The stables of Augeias (5th) Augeias, the King of Elis, ordered Herakles to clear the stables off the dung which had collected over time from a huge herd of cattle. The metope depicts Athena standing behind Herakles while he is cleaning the stables.

The mares of Diomedes (8th) Herakles was sent to Bistones, Thrace to capture the mares of King Diomedes. Once captured, Diomedes attacked Herakles to retrieve them. As Herakles fought with the Thracians, he asked his friend Abderos to take care of the mares. The mares were man-eaters and killed Abderos. In anger, Herakles killed Diomedes and fed him to his own horses. The mares henceforth went calmly to Mycenae and were later killed by wild beasts. The metope depicts Herakles and the mares.

The cattle of Geryon (10th) Geryon was a man joined by three bodies at the hip who possessed a herd of famous cattle on an island in the west Mediterranean. King Eurystheus sent Herakles to capture the herd which Herakles brought back to Mycenae after numerous difficulties and killing Geryon. The metope depicts Herakles killing Geryon.

Apples of the Hesperides (11th) Herakles was asked to fetch golden apples which were given to Zeus and Hera by their grandmother Gaia. The apples were kept in the Atlantic and guarded by a dragon and the daughters of Atlas and Hesperis. Herakles tricked Atlas, took the apples and handed them to Eurystheus. Eurystheus in return gave the apples back to Athena who returned them to their proper place. The metope depicts Atlas giving the apples to Herakles who is supporting the universe (with Athena standing behind).

The taming of Kerberos, the Hound of Hell (12th) Kerberos was the guard dog of Hades with three heads and a biting tail. Hades allowed Herakles to take the dog but without using any weapons. Using only his arms, with the help of Hermes, Herakles captured the ferocious dog and brought it to Eurystheus, who finally returned it to Hades. The metope depicts Hermes with Herakles dragging the leash of the tamed dog.      
         
After the 12 Labors, Hercules rescued the princess of Troy from a hungry sea-monster and helped Zeus in winning a battle for the rule of Olympus.
   
Herakles then married Dei Aniera, the daughter of Dionysos. Due to some reasons they had to escape. During this journey Herakles shot Nessos, a centaur who was trying to ravish Dei Aniera. While dying, Nessos gave some of his blood to Dei Aniera to smear upon Herakles if he lost interest in her. As time passed, Herakles fell in love with Iole. When Des Aniera found out she smeared the blood of Nessos on Herakles clothes which burned Herakles terribly. Herakles, in great pain went to Mt. Oite, sat on a pyre and asked the passers by to light it. Once lighted, it began to burn Herakles alive. Zeus, seeing Herakles in pain, sent Athena who brought him back to Olympus on her chariot. Hera ended her anger and married her daughter Hebe to Herakles, who gave him everlasting youth.