Phidias

Phidias, also spelled Pheidias, was an ancient Greek sculptor of the Classical period, renowned for his monumental works in Athens and Olympia. Active in the mid-5th century BCE, he headed the artistic program of Periclean Athens and pioneered large-scale chryselephantine sculpture—figures executed in gold and ivory.

Among his best-known works are the statue of Athena Parthenos, housed inside the Parthenon on the Acropolis, and the colossal statue of Zeus at Olympia, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Phidias is traditionally credited with designing and supervising the entire sculptural program of the Parthenon, including its pedimental sculpture and the surrounding frieze, though attributions to specific sculptors in the workshop are debated.

Phidias' method combined sculptural modeling with costly materials to convey grandeur and divine presence. He ran a large workshop that included other sculptors and assistants, producing works that influenced generations of Greek sculptors.

Biographical details are incomplete. Later sources report that Phidias fell from favor during the conflict between Pericles' opponents and his allies; he was accused of embezzling gold from the statue of Athena and of impiety. The outcome and even the exact date of his death remain uncertain. Despite the contradictions in the sources, Phidias is widely regarded as one of the most influential sculptors of ancient Greece, shaping the ideals and techniques of classical sculpture.