Phidias

Phidias was born around 480 BC, son of Charmides, and trained under sculptors named Hegias and Ageladas. Working in 5th-century Athens as sculptor, painter, and architect, he created the Athena Parthenos inside the Parthenon and the colossal bronze Athena Promachos that towered between the temple and the Acropolis gateway. His Statue of Zeus at Olympia earned a spot among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Plutarch records that Phidias was close to the statesman Pericles, and that enemies of Pericles came after the sculptor — accusing him of stealing gold meant for Athena's statue and of…