Phidias

__**Phidias**__  If you have a hankering for information about the wonderfully renowed Greek sculptor, Phidias, then this video is defintely for you. Click on the play button on the video below to cure you hankering for Phidias' information. This video is all about one of Phidias' most extraordinary works of arts, the Zeus. media type="youtube" key="9w-eteZEGas" height="315" width="420"

The masterfully caramel-colored drapery on this absoutely maginificent work of art. This oddly familar technique, an elaboration that is known as akrolithic, in which the extremeties are meticulously carved in stone and attached to a wooden core. A colossal statue, most likely bronze-hued. ("Encyclopedia.com") You're probably thinking that I am having a ridicously elaborate palaver about the ostenatious suite at the notoriously and euphoria-filled Four Seasons. But you would be mistaken. I am actually conversing about the bewitching Athena Areia. The Athena Areia is a true showcase of what it truly means to be an artist, which is doing the unexpected, what everybody is afraid to do. Phidias was considered the greatest Greek sculptor of his time. ("AncientGreece.com") But, some things that he was mostly known for was creating the Athena Parthenos at Athens, the Zeus, the Athena Promachos, and for being a very influential artistic figure of the 400 B.C. ("Hyperhistory.com")

To start, one of the most alluring and notable works of art that Phidias created was the Athena Parthenos. The Athena Pathenos was roughly thirty-five feet in height. The picture that emerged on this wonderfully intricate piece of art was the fully armed and elaboratly dressed Athena holding a relatively small statue of the Greek god, Nike in her right hand. And in her left hand she cradled her deadly spear. Her shield rested by her achromatic right leg, and nearby was a coiled serpent. Her helmet, shield, and sandals were richly decorated. The base of the statue illustrated the birth of Pandora being watched by twenty gods. The meticculous techinque of consturction, was not known for certain, but probably inlcuded a face, arms, and other skin areas were pieced together with ivory. Whereas the drapery was made of immensely thin gold. The core of the statue most likely contained an armature of beans. The protecting right arm was probably supported by a column. ("Encyclopedia.com") The colossal statue of the Athena Parthenos, which was made by Phidias was completed and dedicated at around 438 B.C. ("Ce.berkely.edu") Secondly, another one of Phidias' notable works was his statue of the iconic and notorious Zeus. The statue was made in Olympia and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. ("Hyperhistory.com") The Zeus was a gold and ivory and was located in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. Phidias depicted Zeus seated on an elabortaly decorated throne embellished with caramel, ivory, and ebony semi- precious stones. Phidias constructed the statue in a workshop just west of the Temple of Zeus. Accoring to Pausanians, Zeus, like the Athena Pathenos, held Nike in his right hand, and in his left hand lyed an ebony scepter. Every part of Zeus' costume and throne was covered with decorative ornamentation. The slaughter of Niobids was on the sides of the seat and the birth of Aphrodite, the godess of love, on the base. The date of the Zeus has been heavily debated. Some cognizant scholars believe that it was finished at about 448 B.C., before Phidias went to Athens to assume command of the work on the Parthenon. While others assume that he must've finished the intricately and fastidious Zeus after 432 B.C. Unforunately all that survived from this admiriously diligent work of art are some small engraved coins from Elis, which showed the compostion of the figure and the exchange of the head. ("Encyclopedia.com")

In addition, another statue that emerges largely in an accurate and rational discussion of Phidias is the Athena Promachos. The Athena Promachos was a colossal standing bronze-colored statue. It was erected at around 450 B.C. on the Acropolis. It was to be encountered as one would walk through the Proplyaia. While there are opaque reflections of it on Athenian coins, no irrefutable copies have yet been found. The height of this elaborately decorated treasure has been estimated to be twenty-five feet, which makes Pausians's comment that sailors could easily see sunlight being reflected from her chrome helmet be completely and utterly impossible. ("Encyclopedia.com") When the Athena Promachos was taken to the forum of Costantine, the capital of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzatine Empire. Then it was subsequently taken apart by the rioters in 1203 C.E. ("Ancient-Greece.org)

Lastly, Phidias was a very influential artistic figure of the 400 B.C. ("Hyperhistory.com") His artistry was largely responsible for the High Classical style of sculpture during the 400s B.C.("Phidias") Phidias was a master of several different mediums. He produced bronze and marble sculptures and was also renowned for his skill as a painter, engraver and metalworker. Phidias became a very dear friend and adviser to Periclesand helped him to enhance Athens' beauty after the Greel victory of Athens. ("Hyperhistory.com")

All in all, Phidias was a stupendous 5th century Athenian sculptor. ("AncientGreece.com") Some of his most notable achievements included the Athena Parthenos at Athens and the Zeus in the temple on Olympia. They were colossal figures that were incrusted with ivory. ("Infoplease") And let's not forget the masterfully caramel-colored drapery on the Athena Areia. ("Encyclopedia.com") Phidias was a very presistent man, he never gave up. And if you want to be half as good as Phidias was it's going to take persistence, motivation, and extreme determination.

__**Phidias**__ ** __The Zeus statue at Olympia__ **

**__The Athena Parthenos__**

**__Citations__** 1. "Phidias." //Ancient Greece//. University Press Inc., 2008. Web. 15 Mar 2012. []. 2. "Phidias." //Encyclopedia.com//. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2004. Web. 15 Mar 2012. 3. "Pheidias." //www.ce.berkeley.edu//. Encylopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 Mar 2012. []. 4. "Phidias." //World Book//. 15. Chicago: World Book Inc., 2008. Print.  5. "Phidias." //Hyperhistory.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar 2012. []. 6. Starr, Chester. //"The Ancient Greeks"//. Michigan: Oxford University Press, 1971. 45.

7. "Phidias." //Infoplease.com//. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2012. .

8. "Phidias." //Ancient-Greece.org//. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 15 Mar 2012. .