The Changing Image of Zeus in Olympia - Issue 1 - Article focus on worship and portrayals of Zeus

Aug 25, 2026

This article traces how Zeus was visually and ritually represented at Olympia from the Archaic period onward, showing multiple “guises” that shaped worship, public practice, and civic meaning. It examines the oath of fair play before Zeus Horkios, the consequences of oath-breaking via the creation of bronze “Zanes” statues, and Pausanias’ evidence for surviving bases. It also explores Zeus’s roles as divine lover and as a martial deity linked to warfare, athletic honor, and military offerings, culminating in references to Zeus Keraunios and related traditions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

The Changing Image of Zeus in Olympia

Zeus Horkios and the oath of fair play

The “Zanes” statues and public adjudication

Zeus as divine lover (Ganymede terracotta)

Zeus Keraunios and warfare linked to athletics

[https://publications.dainst.org](https://publications.dainst.org) iDAI.publications ELE KT RONISCHE PUB LIKATIO NEN DES DEUTSCHEN ARCHÄO LOG ISCHEN INSTITUTS Dies ist ein digitaler Sonderdruck des Beitrags / This is a digital offprint of the article Judith Barringer The Changing Image of Zeus in Olympia aus / from Archäologischer Anzeiger Ausgabe / Issue 1 • 2015 Seite / Page 19–37 [https://publications.dainst.org/journals/aa/1911/5932](https://publications.dainst.org/journals/aa/1911/5932) • urn:nbn:de:0048-journals. aa-2015-1-p19-37-v5932 .1 Verantwortliche Redaktion / Publishing editor Redaktion der Zentrale | Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Weitere Informationen unter / For further information see [https://publications.dainst.org/journals/aa](https://publications.dainst.org/journals/aa)[ ](https://publications.dainst.org/journals/aa)[ISSN der Online-Ausgabe](ISSN der Online-Ausgabe / ISSN of the online edition 2510-4713)[ / ISSN of the online edition](ISSN der Online-Ausgabe / ISSN of the online edition 2510-4713)[ 2510-4713](ISSN der Online-Ausgabe / ISSN of the online edition 2510-4713)[ ](ISSN der Online-Ausgabe / ISSN of the online edition 2510-4713)[Verlag](Verlag / Publisher Ernst Wasmuth Verlag GmbH & Co. T)[ / Publisher](Verlag / Publisher Ernst Wasmuth Verlag GmbH & Co. T)[ Ernst Wasmuth Verlag GmbH & Co. T](Verlag / Publisher Ernst Wasmuth Verlag GmbH & Co. T)ü[bingen](bingen) ©2017 Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Zentrale, Podbielskiallee 69–71, 14195 Berlin, Tel: +49 30 187711-0 Email: [info@dainst.de / Web:](info@dainst.de / Web:) [dainst.org](dainst.org) Nutzungsbedingungen: Mit dem Herunterladen erkennen Sie die Nutzungsbedingungen ([https://publications.dainst.org/terms-of-use](https://publications.dainst.org/terms-of-use)) von iDAI. publications an. Die Nutzung der Inhalte ist ausschließlich privaten Nutzerinnen / Nutzern für den eigenen wissenschaftlichen und sonstigen privaten Gebrauch gestattet. Sämtliche Texte, Bilder und sonstige Inhalte in diesem Dokument unterliegen dem Schutz des Urheberrechts gemäß dem Urheberrechtsgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Die Inhalte können von Ihnen nur dann genutzt und vervielfältigt werden, wenn Ihnen dies im Einzelfall durch den Rechteinhaber oder die Schrankenregelungen des Urheberrechts gestattet ist. Jede Art der Nutzung zu gewerblichen Zwecken ist untersagt. Zu den Möglichkeiten einer Lizensierung von Nutzungsrechten wenden Sie sich bitte direkt an dieverantwortlichen Herausgeberinnen/Herausgeber der entsprechenden Publikationsorgane oder an die Online-Redaktion des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts ([info@dainst.de](info@dainst.de)) . Terms of use: By downloading you accept the terms of use ([https://publications.dainst.org/terms-of-use](https://publications.dainst.org/terms-of-use)) of iDAI. publications. All materials including texts, articles, images and other content contained in this document are subject to the German copyright. The contents are for personal use only and may only be reproduced or made accessible to third parties if you have gained permission from the copyright owner. Any form of commercial use is expressly prohibited. When seeking the granting of licenses of use or permission to reproduce any kind of material please contact the responsible editors of the publications or contact the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut ([info@dainst.de](info@dainst.de)) . I have delivered this material as a lecture in numerous places, where questions from the audience greatly helped me in the development of this work. Comments from the anonymous reader for AA improved the final product. I am very grateful to Karsten Dahmen, Hans Rupprecht Goette, and Joachim Heiden for providing illustrations and to Klaus Halloffor epigraphical counsel. 1 Paus. 5, 21, 2–4. 2 The date is approximate and based on events in Pheidias’ career. See, e. g. , LIMC VIII (1997) 354 no. 327 s. v.

FAQs

How is Zeus connected to fair play in Olympia, according to the text?

Athletes and trainers swore their oath of fair play before a statue of Zeus Horkios. The statue is described as holding thunderbolts and is linked to later literary and object evidence.

What happens when the oath is broken?

Cheaters were required to fund bronze statues of Zeus erected on inscribed bases along the path to the Stadion. These “Zanes” served as recorded warnings to athletes about to compete.

In what way is Zeus portrayed at Olympia as a martial figure?

The text emphasizes Zeus’s association with warfare as Zeus Keraunios, portraying him not only as receiving honors but as fighting himself. The discussion connects military themes—weapons, victories, trophies, and spoils—to athletics and military thank offerings.

Aug 25, 2026

Upload by Emma Mercer