Zeus Statue Analysis

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The image that has been chosen for this exercise is the Zeus Statue of Olympia. Since this image is not included in Art History by Stokstad, the incorporation of this image will contribute to a missing portion in the book regarding Zeus, the mightiest of the Greek gods in ancient Greece. Zeus, the God of the sky, thunder, lightning, and law, is displayed in a grand size to show his importance. His seating in a throne also reflects his power along with the scepter that Zeus is shown holding. The usage of ivory and plated gold throughout the statue also exemplifies his power and worth in the ancient Greek society. In relation to the intricate details, it is obvious that this statue took a great amount of time and effort to finish. The Statue …show more content…

The main questions on the artifact will be how the statue was destroyed. There are many ongoing theories as to how the Zeus statue became demolished, whether it was in a fire or a meteor struck the temple of Zeus that contained the statue. This incorporation of the artifact will engage others to question how similar artifacts might have been destroyed in ancient times. Another question regarding the artifact will be how the statue was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Since it is regarded as a wonder, what are the aspects of the artifact that qualify it as a wonder? Questions like these will be explained along with the addition of the statue in the textbook. The inclusion of the Statue of Zeus at Olympia will be a huge contribution to the book. It will add to the ongoing wonders of ancient Greek mythology and will arouse further questions regarding the ancient Greek era. When included in the book, this artifact will fit best in the ancient Greek portion of the book. Since Greek gods and goddesses like Dionysus and Athena are discussed throughout this portion, the inclusion of the Statue of Zeus will fit in. The inclusion of this statue will also add to the aesthetics of the ancient Greek time period and will illustrate how the Greeks portrayed the gods and