Ruins · Greece · Attica

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Giant columns from a huge ancient temple, standing in the middle of modern Athens.

Paid entry about 45 min

For storytellers

Why Temple of Olympian Zeus matters

The surviving columns here are enormous, and next to modern traffic they look even bigger. The temple took centuries to finish and was one of the largest in the ancient world. Hadrian's Arch stands nearby, marking a border between the old and new city. A short visit gives a strong sense of scale, with the Acropolis behind.

Talking points

  • Only a handful of the original columns remain, but they are huge.
  • Hadrian's Arch stands close by.
  • The Acropolis forms a lovely backdrop.

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