What type of statue was the Statue of Zeus at Olympia?

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a seated chryselephantine statue.

Chryselephantine means that the sculpture used gold and ivory over a supporting framework. Ancient descriptions say Zeus sat on a richly decorated throne, with ivory used for exposed flesh and gold used for clothing and other elements. The work was created by the Athenian sculptor Phidias.

The statue stood inside the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, not outdoors in the Olympic Games stadium. Its seated pose was a major part of its visual impact: although the figure was seated, it was so large that ancient visitors reportedly felt the temple was almost too small for it.

The statue was later removed or destroyed after the ancient sanctuary declined. No complete original survives, so knowledge of its appearance comes from literary descriptions, coins and smaller artistic copies.