Olympic Find	Volume 56 Number 6, November/December 2003
by Jarrett A. Lobell

(Courtesy Dimitrios Pandermalis) [LARGER IMAGE]

A previously unknown sanctuary to Zeus Hypsistos (god of the summit of Olympus and the heavens) was discovered during excavations at Dion, the sacred city of the ancient Macedonians at the foot of Mount Olympus. Identification of the sanctuary was based on an inscription naming the god, along with a seated cult statue of Zeus holding both his thunderbolt and scepter. Fourteen large marble eagles have also been found, confirming the dedication to Zeus, whose sacred bird is the eagle.

© 2003 by the Archaeological Institute of America www.archaeology.org/0311/newsbriefs/olympic.html

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