Temple of Athena Lindia, Ancient Greek temple at Lindos Acropolis, Rhodes, Greece

The Temple of Athena Lindia is an ancient Greek temple at the top of the Lindos acropolis on the island of Rhodes, built on a limestone cliff overlooking the sea. The structure follows a classic Doric plan with a front porch and an inner chamber, and the surviving columns give a clear sense of the original layout.

The site was a cult place from prehistoric times, possibly used in the Minoan and Mycenaean periods. The first temple was built around 500 BC under the tyrant Cleobulus. It burned down around 350–342 BC, and a new Doric temple was built by about 300 BC. In the 13th century the temple became part of the fortifications of the Knights of Saint John.

Lindia was originally a separate pre-Greek goddess, later identified with Athena; her second epithet here was Polias, patron of the city. Pindar (Olympian VII) records that Helios had the Rhodians build the first sanctuary, and that sacrifices there were bloodless, unlike standard Greek practice. A cult image of Athena stood in the cella.

The climb to the acropolis follows steep and uneven paths, so sturdy footwear and enough water are a good idea. Arriving early in the day gives you more space to move around before the site gets busy.

Beneath the temple, a natural cave in the cliff was used as a place of worship long before the stone structure was ever built. This means the site was considered sacred for generations before anyone thought to erect a building there.