Phidias of Athens

(Fl c. 490-430BC), Phidias is an Athenian sculptor, the artistic director of the construction of the Parthenon, who created its most important religious images and supervised and probably designed its overall sculptural decoration.

Phidias of Athens (Pheidias) is the son of Kharmides and become one of the great Athenian craftsmen with the support of tyrant Pericles. Pericles was the influential leader at the centre of many of the achievements of this time, which is also known as the ‘Golden Age’ of Athens.

Phidias, who was famed also as an architect and painter, was born in Attica. Knowledge of his works depends on the statements of ancient writers because none of his original work is believed to have survived. His first known commission was to execute for Athens a large bronze group of national heroes with the general Miltiades as the central figure.

The architects Ictinus and Callicrates designed the building and the sculptor Phidias created many of its decorations. The most impressive of these was a 12-metre-high marble statue, decorated with gold and ivory, of Athena. This statue no longer exists.

Phidias also directed the construction of the Propylae, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, and the Parthenon.

Among works for which Phidias is famous are three monuments to Athena on the Athenian Acropolis (the Athena Promachos, the Lemnian Athena, and the colossal Athena Parthenos for the Parthenon) and the colossal seated Zeus for the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
Phidias of Athens