I was in Athens in April '08. I visited the temple of Zeus ruins which was built almost 500 years BC to hold a statue of Zeus. The statue was 55 ft. tall and made of gold and ivory. This structure was built to house the statue of Zeus.

I was just amazed at the abilities of the ancient Greeks. However, it is said that many of the people of that time thought that this temple was not glorious enough for the God Zeus.