Constructionof the temple began in the 6th century BC under the tyrantsHippias and Hipparchos, at the site of the ruins of an earliertemple built by their father, the tyrant Peisistratus. The Temple stood unfinished throughoutthe ‘Golden Century’ of Athens and was only completed byRoman governor Hadrian, known as the ‘Philhellene’,in 132AD. The Temple was huge by ancient standards, rivalling other colossal famous Temples such asthe Heraion in Samos, and featured a large goldand ivory statue of Zeus in its cella. Today, onlyfifteen of its original 104 columns are still standing. A sixteenth column lies on the ground, where it fellduring a storm in the 19th century.
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