The Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Also known as the Olympieion, is an ancient temple located in Athens, Greece, that is dedicated to the god Zeus. Its construction began in the 6th century BC under the rule of Peisistratos, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD.
The temple was designed to be the largest temple in Greece, with 104 columns measuring 17 meters in height and 2 meters in diameter. The columns were made of marble and had Corinthian capitals.
The temple also had a massive statue of Zeus, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Construction of the temple was halted several times due to political upheavals and wars. It was finally completed by Hadrian, who added some of his own design elements to the temple. The temple was officially dedicated in 132 AD, and it remained in use until the 3rd century AD, when it was pillaged by the Visigoths.
Over the centuries, the temple was damaged by earthquakes, fires, and looting. The statue of Zeus was destroyed, and many of the columns were taken away to be used in other buildings. By the 18th century, only 15 columns remained standing.
In the 19th century, the Greek government began a restoration project to restore the temple to its former glory. Some of the missing columns were replaced, and the temple was partially rebuilt. Today, 15 of the original columns still stand, along with a few of the replacement columns.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus is now a popular tourist attraction in Athens, and it is a testament to the architectural and engineering skills of the ancient Greeks.
Despite the damage it has suffered over the centuries, the temple remains a stunning example of ancient Greek architecture and a symbol of the country's rich history and cultural heritage.