More About the Video

This is short documentary describing the bronze statue portraying either Zeus or Posdeidon, a matter of some controversy, which bronze is exhibited at the National Archealogical Museum in Athens.

The documentary, narrated by Steven Zucker and Beth Harris, and published by Smarthistory, provides an insightful look at one of the most cherished of the works displayed at the museum.

The statue, which was recovered from a shipwreck off the coast of Greece, is in remarkably good condition. The concensus is that the bronze represents Zeus, the king of the Olympian gods, though it has also been suggested it might represent Poseidon. The statue is slightly taller than lifesize and the sculture when created would have either held either a thunderbolt, if the statue was, in fact, of Zeus, or a trident if the statue were a representation of Poseidon, the mighty god of the sea.