The Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina was dedicated to the goddess Aphaia. It was built in the 5th century BC using local limestone and vivid colors. The temple had an unusual plan with two rows of interior columns and 32 exterior columns. Both pediments contained sculptures depicting scenes from the Trojan wars. The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion in Attica was built in the mid-5th century BC overlooking the Aegean Sea. Built in the Doric style, it originally had 34 columns and was dedicated to the god Poseidon. Sculptures on the eastern pediment were believed to depict the contest between Poseidon and Athena.

1. TEMPLE OF APHAIA

2. MYTHOLOGY
 Aphaia is said to be a mountain
and hunting goddess who
protects shipping and Aegina
was an important shipping area
of the region.
 This temple is dedicated to
Aphaia as legends say that she
disappeared on this location.

3. LOCATION
• Situated on Aegina Island in
the Aegean Sea.
• Built in 5th century BC and
the maritime prosperity of
Aegina is the reason for the
beautifully built Temple.
• Located on a pine-clad hill
known as Mesagro which is
160m in height on the north-eastern
side of the island.

4. COURSE OF TIME
 It was built in 480 BC and
nearly 25 out of the original
32 Doric columns still stand
due to the skill of the
restorers.
 The temple was built over the
ruins of an earlier temple
built around 570 BC that
existed at the very site but
was later destroyed in the fire
in 510 BC.

5. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 Hexastyle peripteral doric
order structure on a 6 x 12
column plan resting on a
15.5m x 30.5m platform.
 Three outer columns were
monolithic.
 3 stepped sloping ramp
provided access at the east
end.
Conjectural Sketch

6. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 As compared to the other
temples, this has an unusual
plan and is mostly known for
their beautiful sculptures that
shows a remarkable progress
from Archaic to Early
classical techniques.
 The plan provides
symmetrical sections in both
the co-ordinates.
Plan & Section

7. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 Built in the Doric style with
32 columns, twelve on each
side and six at the front and
back.
Plan & Section

8. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 It is built in local limestone
and was covered with stucco
and vivid colours.
Conjectural Graphic

9. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 The cella of the temple had
the unusual feature of having
two rows of two columns
supporting another level of
columns that reached the
roof.
Conjectural Model

10. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 The architrave was
constructed in two courses,
giving it a height of 1.19m
versus the frieze height of
0.815m, this proportion is
unusual among the temples
of the region.
 A triglyph and metope frieze
is also placed along the
inside of the pronaos.

11. PEDIMENT
 Eastern Pediment constructed in Archaic Period – Depicts
the first Trojan War.

12. PEDIMENT
Western Pediment constructed in Classical Period – Depicts
the second Trojan War.

13. PEDIMENT
 The composition deals with the decreasing angles of the
pediment by filling the space using a shield and a helmet.

14. PLANNING & LAYOUT
 Measures 28.8m x 13.7m
along the stylobate.
 Height of columns is 5.33
times greater than their
width at the base, giving it
an elongated, airy feel.
 Temple Complex covers an
area of 640 M.sq.

15. PLANNING & LAYOUT

16. TEMPLE OF POSEIDON

17. MYTHOLOGY
 Poseidon is one of the
twelve Olympian deities of
the pantheon in Greek
mythology.
 His main domain is the ocean,
and he is called the "God of the
Sea".
 Additionally, he is referred to as
"Earth-Shaker" due to his role in
causing earthquakes, and has
been called the "tamer of
horses".
 He is usually depicted as an older
male with curly hair and beard.

18. LOCATION
• The dramatic coastal location
of Soúnio (Cape Sounion) in
southern Attica was an ideal
spot for a Temple of
Poseidon, god of the sea.
• Standing atop sheer cliffs
overlooking the Aegean Sea,
the marble temple has served
as a landmark for sailors from
ancient times to today.

19. COURSE OF TIME
o Constructed c. 444-440 B.C.
 Probably part of Periclean building program
 Stands on foundations of an earlier edifice in poros stone
 Begun shortly before 490 B.C.
 Unfinished at the time of the Persian Wars
 Canonical plan
 It was constructed in 450-440 B.C. and, according to another
theory, was the work of the architect who had also built the
Hephaisteion ("Theseion") in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the
Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnous, and the Temple of Ares which
was probably erected in Acharnes.

20. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 It was Doric, with an external
colonnade of 6 x 13 columns, and an
internal one which supported the
roof.

21. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 Built in the Doric style with
32 columns, twelve on each
side and six at the front and
back.
 The dimensions were 31.12 ×
13.47 m.
 The columns had a
height of 6.1 meters and are 1
meter in diameter at the base
and 79 cm at the top.
Plan

22. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 Local marble was used for
the Temple of
Poseidon's Doric columns;
 15 of the original 34
survive today.
 The columns were cut
with only 16 flutings
instead of the usual 20,
which reduced the surface
area exposed to the wind
and sea water.
Conjectural Graphic

23. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 It didn’t had an interior
colonnade in the
cella making its capacity
bigger. Also, the frieze was
around all four sides of
pronaos not just on the part
above the entrance.
 There was no frieze on the
west side nor an inner
entablature. Finally,
the metopes were left flat
and without decoration.
The temple of Poseidon from the west.

24. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION
 The entrance at the sanctuary
area was a Doric portico that
had three doors.
 In the middle one there was a
ramp. It was constructed
shortly after the
temple, of marble and
limestone.
 In the north and west inside
the enclosure
there were two stoas that were
used to rest the visitors of the
sanctuary. The Propylon, the main entrance to the Sanctuary of
Poseidon from the north.The three internal doors are
visible.

25. PEDIMENT
 The east pediment (of which only a seated female figure is
preserved) probably depicted the fight between poseidon and
athena for the domination of attica. The two antae of the east side
and several of the columns of the east part of the temple are still
preserved today, while the west is completely destroyed.