Built in the centre of the sanctuary, on a wide terrace, the temple of Zeus was designed to impress pilgrims. Indeed, the huge sections of its columns, lined up, are enough to leave you speechless, even lying on the ground (where they have lain since the earthquake that destroyed the temple in the 6C). Over a length of 70m and width of 29m, the temple had a row of six Doric columns along its façade and 13 on each of its large sides. The colossal Statue of Zeus by Phidias, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, stood in the cella.