Chryselephantine sculpture

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Chryselephantine (from Greek χρυσός, chrysos, gold, and ελεφάντινος, elephantinos, ivory) is the architectural term given to statues which were built upon a wooden frame, with slabs of ivory representing the flesh and gold leaf representing the garments, armor etc. The two best-known examples are those sculpted by Pheidias: the standing statue of Athena Parthenos ("Virgin") in the Parthenon, and the seated statue of Zeus in the temple at Olympia.

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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.