Review:

Perched high up on top of Sounion hill and sacred since prehistoric times is the temple of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, forever watching over the cobalt blue waters of the Aegean. Sounion Hill stands at the southernmost point of Attica, which is a short drive from Athens and is rich in myths and legends. According to one, King Aegeus drowned himself in the waters below Sounions, and another says King Menelaus and his ship dropped anchor there on their way from Troy.

The magnificent Temple of Poseidon built in the fifth century BCE was part of an ambitious building campaign of Athens' administrator Perikles. The same architect who designed Hephaisetion in Agora probably designed this temple as well. Decorative sculptures made of marble from Paros Island depict Theseus and battles between Giants and Centaurs. Poseidon's temple was built at the site of a much older sacred location of the Bronze Age, but not much is left of it. Watching the sunset from the hill between massive Doric columns always makes for a memorable experience.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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