Statue of Olympian Zeus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and was 12 meters high inside the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. It was carved by the great sculptor Phidias and inlaid with ivory, ebony, gold and precious stones. The Olympic Games are thought to have originated in Olympia in 766 BC and had great religious importance, with contests alternating with sacrifices and ceremonies in honor of the god Zeus.