fall of the Roman Empire. For a historian like myself I found this soul destroying, that such a marvel of history and a triumph of man was picked at like vultures tearing whatever flesh was left from a dead carcass. However, despite this disappointing end, a substantial part of the temple still remained today, although only sixteen of the original columns survived. Naturally, this is still classed as a very important archaeological site of Greece.
Now as for this temple, its large columns looked in better shape, even if only half were still standing. The pristine white marble looked incredibly maintained although this couldn’t possibly be the case. Not when some lay vertical on the floor, broken and with large slices rolled away, like giant wheels on a cart. These missing links split the columns in two or three pieces and now flat they looked as if they could become foundations for a house, they were that wide. Surprisingly, most of the inner columns seemed to remain, which was why parts of the domed roof were still in place. You could tell that the pure white unmarred marble at one time would have been pristine and gleaming like a white jewel, as most of it still shone now.
“Gods almighty, it’s the Lost Temple of Olympia,” Nero said in utter awe and astonishment. We both were, as it was said the Lost Temple of Olympia started life on Mount Olympus, being known as a temple of worship in Zeus' realm of Heaven. However, Zeus had no other choice but to sacrifice this temple, creating a lightning bolt so strong that it split the mountain once the Titans were asleep inside. This was the only way he defeated them, as it was said that with Hades’ help, the temple fell to the deepest levels of Hell.
I had grown up hearing these stories and being fascinated as a child, which no doubt paved the way to my career choice. Which meant that I knew what I would find inside. My father told me of the time that he'd spent there, not revealing why or the circumstances surrounding it. According to my father, inside would have been a treasure trove of statue remains, anything from giant arms to broken feet the size of a transit van. There were also statues over a hundred-feet tall and from the looks of how large the temple was, even in its ruined state, I could very well believe it.
I once asked my father when I was younger why he didn't have any statues of himself and he told me, ‘if I was ever in need of a statue to gaze upon, it would not be of the sight of myself but would be that of your mother’. At the time my mother had heard the tail end of this and snuck up to my father from behind, wrapped her arms around his neck and told him,
“That's it, I now know what I want for my birthday...” and then with a wink directed to me she finished by saying,
“I hope you don't mind staying still for a long time, because I'm looking forward to that gold statue I can hang my coat on.” After this I remembered giggling and now being an adult, I no longer wondered what she whispered in his ear after it.
I did, however, always wonder if my mother ever got that statue and if she did where she kept it. Although, knowing my mother's humour I could very well imagine it in some walk-in closet, one where she probably had it decorated with a scarf around his neck, complete with big hat, sunglasses, and wearing a dress.
After all, one of my mother’s favourite pastimes was reminding my father of his mortality and that included not taking himself too seriously. Just as my father’s favourite pastime was teasing my mother of that mortality that he fell in love with.
This was why, when gazing upon this place, knowing that my father’s footsteps had once walked its broken halls, I couldn't help but grin.
Of course, it was also said the only statue with little damage that remained inside was that of Zeus sat on a golden throne. This was said to be an exact replica of the one that once sat in Earth’s realm for more fools to worship. At the time it was also known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, that was until its eventual loss and destruction during 5th century AD.