The ruins of this temple lie just behind Hadrian's Arch to the east of the Acropolis. It was once one of the largest temples in ancient Greece. The construction of this huge marble building began in 515 BC, and it continued for almost seven centuries and was eventually completed under the Roman emperor Hadrian in AD 132. Its perimeter included a total of 104 Corinthian columns, with additional columns inside the building that housed a gargantuan gold-and-ivory statue of Zeus. After the temple's destruction by invaders in the fourth century AD, the marble was removed from the ruins and used as construction material in newer buildings. Now, only some of the temple's columns can be seen. Their immense height is a testimony to the dimensions of this sanctuary. Daily 8 am-7:30 pm (closed earlier in winter). 2 euros. A 12-euro multipass covers this site, as well as the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Roman Forum, Theater of Dionysus, and Kerameikos. Vasilissis Olgas Avenue (entrance on Olgas), Plaka, Athens. Phone 210-922-6330. http://odysseus.culture.gr.
