Philippeion:
http://www.parthenonuk.com/news/the_philippeion.php
The Philippeion was erected near the west wall of the Altis in 338 BC. The circular monument was commissioned by Philip II of Macedon in celebration of both athletic and military victories. Philip had already won several chariot races at Olympia, and his victory over the Thebans and Athenians at the battle of Chaeronea presented the opportunity for a lavish dedication at the Greek sanctuary. The Philippeion stood on a marble base 15.3 meters in diameter and was comprised of 18 ionic columns covered with a carved marble roof and topped with a bronze poppy head (E. Gardiner). Inside the Philippeon stood 8 Corinthian half columns and 5 statues of the Macedonian royal family that depicted Philip, his wife, his parents, and his son, Alexander. The statues were created by the sculptor Leochares, and composed of gold and ivory (J. Swaddling). Like his other dedications at Olympia, the Philippeon was constructed to portray Philip not as a conqueror, but as a champion of the panhellenic ideal (P. Valavanis). Philip lived only two years after the Philippeion was commissioned. Therefore it is likely the monument was completed by Alexander after the king’s death (J. Swaddling).
Reconstruction of the Philippeion: Jocelyn R. Whittenburg
References
Biers, William R. The Archaeology of Greece. Cornell University Press, Ithica; 1996
Gardiner, E. Norman. Olympia: Its History and Remains. Clarendon Press, London; 1925
Pausanias. Description of Greece with an English Translation (by Jones, W.H.S.) Harvard University Press, Cambridge; 1918
Schobel, Heinz. The Ancient Olympic Games. D. Van Nostrand Compay, Princeton; 1965
Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games. British Museum Press, London; 2004
Valavanis, Panos. Games and Sanctuaries in Ancient Greece. Getty Publications, Los Angeles; 2004
Yalouris, Nikolaos. Olympia: Altis and Museum. Verlag Schnell & Steiner Munchen, Zurich; 1976
Greek Archaeology
