West of the Altis stands one of the most remarkable buildings at Olympia: the workshop in which the sculptor Pheidias created the gold-and-ivory statue of Zeus in the 430s BC. It was built with the same dimensions and orientation as the inner chamber of the Temple of Zeus, so that the statue could be assembled and lit as it would be in its final home.
Excavations in the 1950s found the evidence: tools, clay moulds for the golden drapery, fragments of ivory and glass — and a small black cup inscribed on its base “I belong to Pheidias”. In the fifth century AD the building was converted into an early Christian basilica, and it is those later brick walls you see standing today.
What to see at Workshop of Pheidias
Step inside the walls
Stand in the nave and picture the half-built statue towering above you, with craftsmen working gold and ivory on scaffolding.
Spot the Christian details
Look for the carved stone screen panels and the apse of the basilica, a reminder that Olympia remained inhabited long after the Games ended.
See the finds in the museum
The Pheidias cup and moulds from the workshop are displayed in the Archaeological Museum.
How to get to Workshop of Pheidias
- On site: just south of the Palaestra, on the western side of the site, before you enter the Altis.
Insider tips
- Visit it before the Temple of Zeus — it makes the scale of the statue easier to imagine.
- The brick walls are Byzantine; the foundations beneath them are Classical.
Best tours & tickets for Workshop of Pheidias
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Workshop of Pheidias with context:
Private tour from €118 Olympic Site All-Inclusive Private Tour with a Local Expert
An exclusive two-hour walk through the sanctuary with a field archaeologist and certified guide. Expect the stories behind the stones — how the Games were run, who paid for what, and how the site was lost and found.
- A field archaeologist as your private guide
- Admission handled — no ticket queue
- Perfect rating from 30+ reviews
Entry ticket from €26 Ancient Olympia: Archaeological Site and Museum Entry Ticket
A prebooked entry ticket to one of the most glorious sanctuaries of the ancient world, covering the archaeological site and museums. Useful on busy cruise days in high season when the ticket queue builds.
- Prebooked combined entry
- Archaeological site plus the museums
- Skip the ticket-office queue
