Temple of Apollo at Aegina, Doric temple ruins at Kolona, Aegina, Greece
The Temple of Apollo was built on a hillside above Aegina's harbor as a Doric structure with multiple columns arranged along its sides and ends. Today only a single limestone column of about 26 feet (8 meters) remains standing, though scattered stones and the visible foundation outline hint at the building's former scale.
Built around 520 BCE, the temple was among the earliest examples of Doric architecture, predating famous structures elsewhere in Greece. It was eventually destroyed when Christian authorities banned pagan religious practices across the empire.
The temple was a place where people on the island honored Apollo, the sun god, making it central to their religious life and identity. Walking around the remaining column, you sense how this site bound the community to the wider Greek world.
The site sits on a rise that is easy to reach from the harbor area, with views across the town and water. Morning visits offer the best light for photographs and a quieter experience with fewer crowds.
Venetian sailors used the standing column as a landmark to navigate ships safely into the harbor during medieval and early modern times. This practical role kept the ruin visible and important to seafarers long after the temple's religious purpose had ended.
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