Philippeion
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ThePhilippeion(Greek:Φιλιππεῖον) in the Altis ofOlympiawas anIoniccircular memorial in limestone and marble, atholos,which containedchryselephantine(ivory and gold) statues ofPhilip's family: himself,Alexander the Great,Olympias,Amyntas IIIandEurydice I.It was made by the Athenian sculptorLeocharesin celebration of Philip's victory at thebattle of Chaeronea (338 BC).It was the only structure inside the Altis dedicated to a human.[1]
The temple consisted of an outercolonnadeof Ionic order with 18 columns. Inside it had nineengaged columnsof the lavishly designedCorinthian order.[2]It had a diameter of 15 metres. The naos contained two windows, much like Hera II at Paestum. It had a carved marble roof which was decorated with a bronze poppy head on top.
The importance of the chryselephantine material used is that it was also the material used for thestatue of Zeus at Olympia(comparing the Macedonian royal family to the gods). The fact that Alexander is represented here is also important, as Philip had seven wives, therefore after his death there very well could have been claims to the throne by people other than Alexander. By putting Alexander in the statue it makes it clear who the successor should be. It is however disputed whether or not Philip constructed this monument or whether Alexander had it constructed later, in which case the motives would be different.
Notes
[edit]- ^A brief history of the Olympic games By David C. Young Page 125ISBN1-4051-1130-5
- ^Phillipeion.Greek Ministry for Culture and Sports
References
[edit]- PhilippeioninArchaeopaedia
- Philippeion inculture.gr[permanent dead link]
- Hyde, Walter Woodburn(December 2003).Olympic victor monuments and Greek athletic art.University Press of the Pacific. p. 353.ISBN1-4102-0994-6.
External links
[edit]Media related toPhilippeionat Wikimedia Commons
- 4th-century BC establishments in Greece
- Buildings and structures completed in the 4th century BC
- Ancient Olympia
- Ancient Greek buildings and structures
- Culture of Macedonia (ancient kingdom)
- Alexander the Great in art
- Philip II of Macedon
- Statue of Zeus at Olympia
- Monuments and memorials in Greece
- Greece archaeology stubs
- Greek building and structure stubs