Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which famous statues did Phidias create using ivory and gold?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
ivory carving
Kinugumiut Inupiat incised walrus ivory shaman's figure, c. 1890; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
The Greek sculptor Phidias is famous for creating two monumental chryselephantine statues, a technique in which the flesh was crafted from ivory and the drapery from gold.1
His two most renowned works using these materials were:
- Athena Parthenos: A colossal statue of the goddess Athena created for the Parthenon in Athens, completed and dedicated in 438 BCE.23
- Statue of Zeus: A massive seated figure of the god Zeus created for the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, completed about 430 BCE. This work was considered his masterpiece and was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.24