Temple of Aphaea

Aphaea is a Greek temple set on a wooded hilltop within the municipality of Aegina on the island of the same name in the Saronic Gulf. The ruins consist of local limestone and still display rows of standing columns that frame a rectangular floor plan, hinting at a once enclosed structure.

The site was built during the late Archaic period and replaced an older sanctuary destroyed by fire. The location had already been a place of worship for centuries before the reconstruction, as finds from earlier periods reveal.

The temple honors a local deity later associated with Athena and Artemis, whose worship was deeply rooted in the island's traditions. Visitors today can sense how the site once served as a religious center drawing pilgrims from across the region.

Access follows a paved road heading northeast from the port town, winding through pine forests. The site is mostly level and easy to walk, though it offers little shade on hot days beyond the tree line surrounding the hill.

The preserved pediment sculptures now reside in the Glyptothek Munich, while on-site replicas allow visitors to sense the original decoration. The structure forms a geographic triangle with the Acropolis temples and Cape Sounion, which held symbolic meaning in antiquity.

Location: Aegina Municipality

Inception: 500 BCE

Architectural style: ancient Greek architecture

Website: http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=535

GPS coordinates: 37.75428,23.53333

Latest update: December 17, 2025 08:06