Section From The Temple Of Olympian Zeus 2013

This painting is based on a section of the temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens.  I've obviously added 'artistic license' because I wanted there to be more emphasis on colour.  This temple was the largest in Greece at the time that it was completed (during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian c. AD 120).  It took over 600 years to be built and less than 200 years after its completion it was ransacked by a barbarian invasion of Athens.  Christianity became popular across the Mediterranean during these times.  When Christianity became the main religion of the Roman Empire (approximately AD 330) there was no use for a temple that was dedicated to the king of the Polytheistic gods.


Section From The Temple Of Olympian Zeus 2013, oil painting on canvas (80x50cm)