The statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of what?

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Greek Temples Quiz – How Much Do You Really Know?

This Greek temples quiz covers the Parthenon, the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Delphi, Paestum, Segesta and the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian column orders. Ten questions test how much you really know about Greek temple architecture.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Orders
Which column style is the simplest, with plain capitals?
Orders
Which column style has scroll-shaped capitals?
Orders
Which column style is decorated with acanthus leaves?
Athens
Which sculptor oversaw the Parthenon's sculptures?
Olympia
The statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of what?
Italy
Which Italian site has three well-preserved Greek temples?
Sicily
Which Sicilian temple was never finished?
Tricks
Why do Parthenon columns bulge slightly?
Athens
Which temple has porch columns shaped like women?
Sicily
Agrigento's Valley of the Temples includes the Temple of what?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which column style is the simplest, with plain capitals?
Answer: Doric
The Parthenon uses mainly Doric columns.
Q2: Which column style has scroll-shaped capitals?
Answer: Ionic
The scrolls are called volutes.
Q3: Which column style is decorated with acanthus leaves?
Answer: Corinthian
Romans used it often.
Q4: Which sculptor oversaw the Parthenon's sculptures?
Answer: Phidias
He also made a huge gold-and-ivory Athena.
Q5: The statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of what?
Answer: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
It was made by Phidias.
Q6: Which Italian site has three well-preserved Greek temples?
Answer: Paestum
It was the Greek colony Poseidonia.
Q7: Which Sicilian temple was never finished?
Answer: Segesta
Its columns were never fluted.
Q8: Why do Parthenon columns bulge slightly?
Answer: To look straight to the eye
The bulge is called entasis.
Q9: Which temple has porch columns shaped like women?
Answer: The Erechtheion
The figures are called caryatids.
Q10: Agrigento's Valley of the Temples includes the Temple of what?
Answer: Concordia
It is one of the best preserved.

Greek Temples Quiz – Houses of the Gods

Greek temples were built as homes for gods, holding cult statues rather than large congregations. Worship mostly happened at altars outside. Temples were often placed on hills or sacred sites like the Acropolis and Delphi.

Architects used three column orders, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, along with careful proportions and optical refinements. The Parthenon's columns lean slightly inward and bulge to appear perfectly straight.

Greek colonies built temples in Italy and Sicily, some even better preserved than those in Greece. Greek temple design later inspired Roman buildings and modern courthouses, museums and banks.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for history and architecture fans exploring Greek temples.

What the three orders are
Who oversaw the Parthenon
Where Greek temples survive in Italy
What entasis is
What caryatids are

Did You Know?

Temples were brightly painted originally.
The Temple of Hephaestus is very well preserved.
Bassae's temple has all three orders.
Sounion's temple honors Poseidon.
Marble came from Mount Pentelicus.