Flourished Circa 465-430 B.C.E.
Sculptor

Cult Statues. Pheidias was an Athenian sculptor most renowned for his colossal cult statues of Athena Parthenos (447-438) and Zeus at Olympia (circa 430). He became a close friend of Pericles and was in charge of the entire building program of the Acropolis from the early 440s. Other works included the statue of Athena Promakhos (The Champion) on the Acropolis (circa 465-456) and the Lemnian Athena, named after those who dedicated it. He also produced statues of Athenian tribal heroes set up at Delphi, funded by the spoils of Marathon, and some have claimed that the Riace Bronzes are two survivals of this monument.

Scandal. Ancient descriptions enable scholars to identify the general appearances of the Athena Parthenos and Zeus at Olympia which are confirmed in various smaller copies. Both statues were of ivory and gold over a wooden core, embellished...