Temple of Artemis, Ancient Greek temple in Garitsa, Greece
The Temple of Artemis in Kerkyra is an ancient Greek temple in Garitsa, Greece, with a rectangular floor plan and an entrance facing east. The ruins show remains of Doric columns and massive stone blocks that once supported a monumental roof.
The sanctuary arose around 580 before the common era in the ancient city of Korkyra and belongs to the earliest Doric temples built entirely from stone. Later expansions included an altar and auxiliary buildings, while the main structure remained in use during Roman occupation.
Visitors encounter the goddess Gorgo flanked by two panthers in the western pediment reliefs, recognized as the earliest surviving temple pediment in Greece. This representation shows mythological figures at life-size proportions, as later became common during the classical era.
The site lies in the modern Garitsa district and is freely accessible to visitors who can walk among the stone fragments. Information panels in several languages help with orientation between the foundations and explain the arrangement of column rows.
French troops uncovered the first foundations during the Napoleonic Wars, long before systematic excavations on Corfu began. The western pediment reliefs were later installed at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu, where they now form part of the permanent collection.
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