Temple of Olympian Zeus
Once the largest temple in Greece, begun in the 6th century BC and not finished until nearly 700 years later under the Roman emperor Hadrian in 131 AD — a construction timeline that makes it a genuinely unusual case among ancient monuments. Only 15 of the original 104 Corinthian columns remain standing, with a 16th lying where it fell in an 1852 storm, but even in this reduced state the scale is striking; each column stands over 17 meters tall.
Hadrian's Arch, a Roman gateway marking the boundary between the old Greek city and Hadrian's new Roman quarter, stands just outside the temple enclosure and is visible without paying for entry.
It's a small, quick site — the ruins occupy a relatively compact fenced area — so most visitors spend 20-30 minutes here, often as a stop between the Acropolis area and the National Garden or Panathenaic Stadium.
Temple of Olympian Zeus FAQs
Construction started in the 6th century BC but stalled repeatedly for political and financial reasons across several centuries, and it was only completed under Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD.
The fenced temple enclosure requires a ticket, but Hadrian's Arch just outside is visible for free from the street.
Yes, it's one of the sites covered by the standard multi-site Athens archaeological ticket.
Only 15 of the original 104 columns still stand, plus one that toppled in an 1852 storm and remains where it fell.
Most visitors need 20-30 minutes, since it's a compact site with a clear, quick walking loop.
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