Zanes, Group of sculptures in Olympia, Greece

The Zanes are the remains of a row of bronze statues of Zeus at ancient Olympia, of which only 16 stone pedestals survive. These rectangular bases of stacked grey stone blocks line a dirt path in front of the Crypt, the monumental entrance to the stadium. The bronze figures themselves are lost; the pedestals stand unadorned today.

The statues were created during the Classical era after athletes violated the rules of the Olympic Games. The number of sculptures grew over several centuries because a new statue was erected with each new case of cheating.

The sculptures were paid for with fines collected from athletes who cheated during competition. Each base carried the name of the offender and his home city, so visitors from across the Greek world saw who had broken the rules.

The sixteen stone pedestals stand in a row along the dirt path at the Crypt, the monumental entrance to the stadium, on the left as you walk from the sanctuary toward the stadium. They sit at the foot of Mount Kronion. The bronze statues are gone; only the bases remain.

The first six pedestals were set up after the 98th Olympiad, when the Thessalian boxer Eupolos bribed three opponents; two of these bases were carved by Kleon of Sikyon. The Alexandrian pankratiast Sarapion was the first athlete fined for cowardice, having fled the sacred grounds on the eve of the Games.