Phidias
the great Greek sculptor; born in Athens; probably between 490- 480 в. c. He began to distinguish himself about 464, and was employed in public works at Athens under Cimon.
He was one of the most intimate friends of Pericles, under whose rule he was appointed director of all the great temples and monuments which were to be erected in the city. Of these the most important were the Parthenon, or temple of Athena, on the Acropolis, and the Propylæa. He PHIDIAS executed a colossal statue of the goddess for the interior of the temple with his own hand. The well-known Elgin Marbles of the British Museum were the sculptured decorations of that unrivaled temple. At Olympia he executed the most magnificent of all his works-the statue of the Olympian Zeus. Like the Athena, it was of ivory and gold, and nearly 60 feet in height. It was destroyed by fire at Constantinople, whither PHILADELPHIA it had been carried by the Emperor Theodosius. Phidias was charged with peculation and impiety on the ground of having introduced portraits of himself and Pericles on the shield of Athene.
This attack was made on him as the friend of Pericles. The prevailing characteristic of the works of Phidias appears to have been an ideal sublimity of form never since equaled. According to the generally received account, he died in prison 432 в. c.