Metroon, Ancient Greek temple in Olympia, Greece

The Metroon is an ancient Greek temple at the sanctuary of Olympia featuring Doric columns and visible stone foundations. The remains show a rectangular layout with several column stumps rising among other archaeological structures within the sanctuary.

The temple was built in the 4th century BC and kept its religious function for a long time. During the Roman period, its use changed to serve the worship of emperors.

The temple was dedicated to Rhea-Cybele, the Mother of Gods, and shows the worship practices that took place at Olympia. Today visitors can see from the remains how important these deities were in religious life.

The Metroon lies in the excavated sanctuary of Olympia, north of the Temple of Zeus and east of the Temple of Hera. Its foundations, northwest stylobate corner and column stumps are visible from the visitor paths. The altar and entrance faced west, unlike most Greek temples, so approach from that side to follow the original layout.

Excavations at this site uncovered inscriptions and offerings that document the shift from Greek to Roman religious practices. These finds show how the temple's use changed over time.