Phidias
Who was Phidias?
Greek sculptor, painter and architect (c.480–430 BC)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Phidias (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Phidias was a Greek sculptor, painter, and architect from around 480 to 430 BC, during the peak of classical Athens. The son of Charmides, he was trained by the masters Hegias and Ageladas. Phidias thrived in the fifth century BC when Athens enjoyed great cultural and political success under Pericles. He was closely linked with Pericles and played a key role in the building projects that turned the Athenian Acropolis into a showcase of Athenian power and art.
His most famous work was the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This huge gold and ivory statue showed Zeus sitting on a fancy throne and attracted visitors from all over the ancient Mediterranean. Phidias also made important contributions to the Athenian Acropolis, creating several statues of Athena that showed his skill with different sizes and materials. The Athena Parthenos, housed in the Parthenon, was another gold and ivory masterpiece that was both a religious symbol and a display of Athenian wealth.
Phidias also created the Athena Promachos, a massive bronze statue on the Acropolis between the Parthenon and the Propylaea. This large figure could reportedly be seen by sailors approaching Athens, symbolizing the city's divine protection and military strength. His other works included the Lemnian Athena and the Aphrodite Urania statue at Elis, showing his ability to work on various subjects and places within the Greek world.
Despite his artistic success, Phidias faced political troubles due to his close ties with Pericles. Opponents accused him of stealing gold meant for the Athena Parthenos and of wrongly including portraits of himself and Pericles on the goddess's shield. While the truth of these accusations is uncertain, sources like Aristophanes mention Phidias' problems during this time. These issues led to his leaving Athens, and he died in Olympia around 430 BC, possibly while working on or taking care of his famous statue of Zeus.
Before Fame
Phidias grew up during a pivotal time in Athenian history, as the city emerged victorious from the Persian Wars and started building its empire across the Aegean. He received his early artistic education under respected masters Hegias and Ageladas, who taught him traditional sculpture and metalworking techniques. In fifth-century Athens, the focus on honoring the gods and celebrating civic achievements opened up exciting opportunities for ambitious sculptors.
The rebuilding efforts after Athens was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC created new chances for artistic commissions. Phidias likely gained initial recognition through smaller works before catching the attention of Pericles, who was planning the most ambitious building projects in Greek history. Phidias's skills in working with precious materials and creating large-scale sculptures made him a great choice to lead the artistic changes on the Acropolis.
Key Achievements
- Created the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Designed and executed the Athena Parthenos for the Parthenon
- Supervised the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon as part of Pericles' building program
- Established the classical Greek style that influenced sculpture for centuries
- Created multiple monumental statues of Athena that defined Athenian religious and civic identity
Did You Know?
- 01.The gold on the Athena Parthenos statue was removable, allowing it to be weighed to disprove accusations of theft
- 02.Sailors could allegedly see the tip of his Athena Promachos statue's spear from the sea at Cape Sounion
- 03.He may have invented the chryselephantine technique of combining gold and ivory for monumental sculpture
- 04.Ancient sources claim he included his own portrait as a bald old man on Athena's shield at the Parthenon
- 05.His Zeus statue was so impressive that it supposedly moved the Roman Emperor Caligula to attempt stealing it