Temple of Poseidon, Soúnio, Athens 
The temple of Poseidon at sunset, with the planets Jupiter and Venus
in the western sky. Photo by George Zikos.
See our Temple of Poseidon Photo Gallery for many more photos.
The Temple of Poseidon. Photo by Alan Smythie.
The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Photo by Alan Smythie.
Graffiti at the Temple of Poseidon. Photo by Alan Grant.
The dramatic coastal location of Soúnio (Cape Sounion), 5.5 miles south of Athens, was an ideal spot for a Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea. Standing atop sheer cliffs that tumble into the Aegean Sea, the gleaming marble of the Temple of Poseidon has been a landmark for mariners from ancient times to today.
Soúnio has been a sacred site since very ancient times. The "sanctuary of Sounion" is first mentioned in the Odyssey, as the place where Menelaus stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides.
Archaeological evidence has shown that there were two organized places of worship on the cape by the 7th century BC: a sanctuary of Poseidon at the southern edge and a sanctuary of Athena about 500 m to the northeast.
Construction on a grand Temple of Poseidon began around 500 BC but was never completed; the temple and all the votive offerings were destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. The Temple of Poseidon that now stands at Soúnio was built in 444 BC atop the older temple ruins. The Temple of Athena was also built at this time, atop her ancient sanctuary on the cape.
The sanctuaries began to decline from the 1st century BC onwards. Pausanias, who sailed along the coast around 150 AD, wrongly believed the prominent temple on the hill was the Temple of Athena.
Modern travellers visited Sounion long before excavations started on the site, including Lord Byron in 1810. Systematic excavations began on the site in 1897 and continue today.
What to See
Local marble was used for the Temple of Poseidon's 34 slender Doric columns, 15 of which survive today. The columns were cut with only 16 flutings instead of the usual 20, thereby reducing the surface area exposed to the harsh elements.
On the east side of the temple's main approach path is an Ionic frieze made from 13 slabs of Parian marble. Badly eroded now, it is known to have depicted scenes from the battle of the Lapiths and centaurs as well as the adventures of the hero Theseus (son of Poseidon in some legends).
The east pediment, on which only a seated female figure is preserved, probably depicted the battle between Poseidon and Athena for the domination of Attica.
Lord Byron carved his name in the marble of one of the columns in 1810. He set an unfortunate precedent for graffiti at the temple, which is now covered in scrawled signatures and initials.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Using the slider on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Greece from space on our Greece Satellite Map or on Google Earth.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Temple of Poseidon |
| Type of site: | Greek temple |
| Dates: | 444 BC |
| Size: | Temple floor area: 13.47 x 31.12 m |
| Location: | 5.5 miles (9 km) south of Lavrio, Attica. |
| Website: | http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21102a/e211ba07.html |
| Phone: | 22920 39363 |
| Hours: | Daily 10am-sunset |
| Cost: | €4 |
Sources
- Eyewitness Travel Guide to Greece: Athens and the Mainland
- Sanctuary of Poseidon and Athena at Sounion - Hellenic Ministry of Culture
