Phidias facts for kids

Phidias Showing the Frieze of the Parthenon to his Friends (1868) by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Phidias (around 480 BC to 430 BC) was a famous Greek artist. He was a talented sculptor, painter, and architect. He created some of the most amazing artworks of the ancient world.

One of his most famous works was the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. This giant statue was so grand that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Phidias also designed beautiful statues of the goddess Athena for the Acropolis in Athens. These included the Athena Parthenos inside the Parthenon and the Athena Promachos, a large bronze statue of Athena near the Acropolis entrance.

Who Was Phidias?

Phidias was born in Athens, Greece. He lived during a very important time for Athens, known as its "Golden Age." This was a period when art, architecture, and ideas really blossomed. Phidias was a key figure in this artistic boom. He was known for his incredible skill in making large, detailed statues.

Masterpieces by Phidias

Phidias created many impressive works. His two most famous statues were:

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

This was a huge statue of the king of the gods, Zeus. It was made of ivory and gold, and it sat in the Temple of Zeus in Olympia. People traveled from all over to see this magnificent artwork. It was considered one of the greatest achievements of ancient art.

The Statues of Athena

Phidias made two important statues of the goddess Athena for the Acropolis in Athens:

• Athena Parthenos: This massive statue was placed inside the Parthenon, a famous temple dedicated to Athena. It was also made of gold and ivory. It showed Athena holding a shield and a spear.
• Athena Promachos: This was a large bronze statue that stood outside the Parthenon. Its spear and helmet could be seen from far away by ships sailing towards Athens.

Phidias's Artistic Style

Phidias was known for his realistic and detailed sculptures. He was very good at showing human forms and emotions. His work had a grand and noble feeling. He often used expensive materials like gold and ivory, which made his statues even more impressive. His style greatly influenced other artists for many centuries.

Legacy of Phidias

Even though many of Phidias's original works are lost, we know about them from ancient writings and Roman copies. His art helped define the classical Greek style. He is remembered as one of the greatest sculptors in history. His work on the Parthenon sculptures, like the Frieze and pediments, also showed his amazing talent for storytelling through art.

Images for kids

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  The Varvakeion Athena, a Roman-era copy of the Athena Parthenos statue by Phidias.

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  A drawing of Phidias' Statue of Zeus at Olympia from 1572.

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  The workshop of Phidias at Olympia, where he created the Statue of Zeus.

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  Head of Aphrodite in the style of Phidias.

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  A depiction of Zeus in Olympia on an ancient coin.

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  A copy of a work by Phidias or his students: head of Athena.

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  A reconstruction of the Athena Lemnia statue.

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  A Roman copy of the Head of Athena.

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  An ivory head of Apollo, possibly carved by Phidias.

See also

In Spanish: Fidias para niños