Temple of Athena, Ancient Greek temple in Paestum, Italy
The Temple of Athena is a Greek temple of Magna Graecia at Paestum, built around 500 BC on an artificial rise. Its facade has a high pediment and a Doric frieze with metopes set in sandstone, carried on slightly slender Doric columns; six columns stand across the front and thirteen along each side. The wide pronaos held six Ionic columns, of which the bases and two capitals remain.
The sanctuary was built around 500 BC and originally dedicated to the goddess Athena. In the 8th century, it was converted into a church with walls constructed between its columns.
The temple was long called the Temple of Ceres; only after many terracotta statuettes of Athena came to light was the dedication corrected. The building also served as a church from around the 8th century, when walls were raised between the columns and the south ambulatory held burials.
The temple stands on an artificial rise in the northern sanctuary, opposite the southern sanctuary that holds the Temple of Hera I and the Temple of Hera II. Visitors approach across open ground; a low wooden crossbar fence runs in front of the stepped platform. The surviving Ionic bases and two capitals lie inside the wide pronaos, and the raised cella floor, about a metre above ground, is still visible.
The sanctuary displays a rare combination of Doric and Ionic orders, with Doric friezes featuring metopes in sandstone alongside decorated Ionic column capitals. This unusual mixing of architectural styles was not typical in ancient Greek temple design.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,811 contributors worldwide.
