Phidias, << FIHD ee uhs >> (490?-420? B.C.), was the greatest sculptor in ancient Greece. His artistry was largely responsible for the High Classical style of sculpture during the 400’s B.C.
Phidias is best known for his designs for the sculptures on the Parthenon. Phidias conceived and designed these works, though he may not have actually made them. He created statues of gods and goddesses primarily in marble, but occasionally in gold and ivory. These statues were unrivaled in the ancient world for their majesty and grandeur.
None of Phidias’s statues survive, but ancient authors describe a great statue of Athena Parthenos. It stood in the Parthenon and was more than 35 feet (11 meters) high. Phidias was most famous for his gigantic statue of the seated Zeus, which he created for the temple at Olympia. Each of these two huge statues had a wooden core that was covered with gold and ivory.
