Phidias (or Pheidias) (lived mid-5th century BC)

Greek sculptor. Active in Athens, he supervised the sculptural programme for the Parthenon (most of it is preserved in the British Museum, London, and known as the Elgin marbles). He also executed the colossal statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. No surviving sculptures can be credited to him with certainty.

He was a friend of the political leader Pericles, who made him superintendent of public works in Athens. Phidias executed for the Parthenon the statue of Athena in ivory and gold about 438 BC. Six years later, he was accused of impiety in having introduced his own and Pericles' likenesses on the shield of the goddess and of stealing the gold entrusted to him. He died either in prison or in exile.