Poseidon’s Sanctuary in Cape Sounion (March 2026)
[Photos]

Sanctuary of the Greek God Poseidon, at the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula, photo 103. The Doric temple of Poseidon (with 6x13 columns on the peristyle and two between the antae in both the pronaos and the opisthodomos) was built of local Agrilezan marble over the ruins of the archaic temple. The pedimental roof was crowned with palmette acroteria. On the eastern side, which is the entrance side, a relief frieze ran around the upper part of the interior of the pteron. The frieze slabs, made of Parian marble, depict scenes from the Centauromachy and the labors of Theseus. This is an allegory of the Greek victory over the Persians, led by the Athenians, and of the superiority of Athenian democracy over Eastern absolutism. It is attributed to the same architect who had undertaken three other temples in "Golden Age" Attica: the Temple of Hephaestus (known to most as the "Theseion") in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Ares in Acharnes, and the Temple of Nemesis in Rhamnous. The name of this great builder is unknown, but archaeologists have named him the "Architect of the Theseion", though it is not verified that it refers to the same person.

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It should also be noted that the local marble from the quarries of Agrileza (in Lavreotiki), which was used for the building, although lacking the brilliance of Pentelic marble, is exceptionally resistant to sea erosion. This is the reason why the temple has survived in relatively good condition. Conversely, the Parian marble of the frieze, which was more suitable for sculpture, suffered severe damage.

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