Phidias

Lore & Background

Little is known of Phidias's life apart from his works. He was the son of Charmides of Athens, and the ancients believed his masters were Hegias and Ageladas. His earliest works were dedications in memory of Marathon, and his first commission was a group of national heroes with Miltiades as a central figure. At Delphi he created a great bronze group including Apollo, Athena, several Attic heroes, and General Miltiades the Younger. On the Acropolis of Athens he constructed the colossal bronze Athena Promachos, visible far out at sea. He also made statues of Athena at Pellene and Plataea, and a chryselephantine statue of Aphrodite for Elis. Plutarch discusses Phidias's friendship with the statesman Pericles. Enemies of Pericles accused Phidias of stealing gold intended for the Parthenon's Athena statue and of impiously portraying himself and Pericles on the shield. The historical value of this account is debatable, but Aristophanes mentions an incident involving Phidias. After completing the Athena Parthenos, Phidias was accused of embezzlement, supposedly weighed the gold robe to prove his innocence, but was then accused of the impiety on the shield. Plutarch records he was imprisoned and died in jail; Philochorus states he was put to death by the Eleans after completing the Statue of Zeus at Olympia.

Reader's Guide

Phidias's significance lies in his role as the main instigator of Classical Greek sculptural design and his creation of two of the most famous works of antiquity: the chryselephantine Statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders, and the Athena Parthenos. No original works by him survive with certainty, but numerous Roman copies exist. Ancient critics praised the ethos or permanent moral level of his works. Another probable workshop on the Acropolis was excavated later. In the 20th century, mathematician Mark Barr used the Greek letter Phi (φ) as a symbol for the golden ratio after Phidias, though Barr later thought it unlikely Phidias actually used it. His name also appears on a crater on Mercury and an asteroid.

Did You Know?

• Phidias's Statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• A cup found in his workshop at Olympia is inscribed 'Φειδίου εἰμί' ('I belong to Phidias'), though its authenticity is disputed.
• Plutarch records that Phidias was imprisoned and died in jail after being accused of impiety.
• The Greek letter Phi (φ) was used as a symbol for the golden ratio after Phidias by mathematician Mark Barr.