493?-430 B.C.

Greek sculptor responsible for the Parthenon and Acropolis sculptures, including the statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the statute of Athena, a massive ivory and gold sculpture. Hailed as the greatest sculptor of ancient Greece, Phidias was named by Pericles to oversee the erection of public works in Athens. After his enemies accused him of stealing gold from the Athena statue and carving pictures of himself and Pericles on Athena's shield, he fled into exile.