Olympicus

work by Dion Chrysostom

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Olympicus is a work by the Greek rhetorician and philosopher Dio Chrysostom. Written around 110 CE, it features the sculptor Phidias explaining his artistic principles for creating the famous Statue of Zeus at Olympia. This work is notable for its discussion of art and its potential influence on later writers. Dio Chrysostom himself was a prominent figure in the Roman Empire, known for his speeches and writings that championed Greek ethical values. The ancient Olympic Games, held at Olympia, were a religious festival honoring Zeus and featured various athletic contests.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Dio Chrysostom
In Olympicus the sculptor Phidias explains the principles he followed in his famous statue of Zeus, one passage being supposed by some to have suggested the German dramatist Gotthold Lessing’s Laocoon. In On Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, Dio compares the treatment of the story of Philoctetes…
Read More
In Olympicus the sculptor Phidias explains the principles he followed in his famous statue of Zeus, one passage being supposed by some to have suggested the German dramatist Gotthold Lessing’s Laocoon. In On Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, Dio compares the treatment of the story of Philoctetes…
Read More