Famous Ancient Greek Temples

Every civilization needs a place to worship the divine. The ancient Greeks were no exception. The ancient Greek temple had one primary function: to provide shelter for the statues of the gods.

It was believed that in the statues dwelled the spirits of the gods. Thus, it was only natural for the Greeks to bring forth constructions that would befit the majesty of their gods.

Temple of Hera, Olympia

The Temple of Hera, or Heraion, is an ancient Archaic Greek temple in Olympia. Dedicated to Hera, the highest goddess in the Greek pantheon, it was the oldest temple at the site and one of the most famous and venerable in all of Greece.

The ancient Greek temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion was built during 444-440 BC and is considered one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens. The temple overlooks the sea at the end of the cape, at a height of almost 60 meters.

Temple of Poseidon, Sounio

Temple of Apollo, Corinth

This temple was an emblem of the Greek city of Corinth, projecting the city’s prosperity and growth. It belonged to the peripteral type of temples, surrounded by a pteron of 42 monolithic, limestone columns, each over 7 meters high.

Temple of Apollo, Delphi

The temple of Apollo in Delphi occupied the most important and prominent position in the Delphic Panhellenic Sanctuary. The temple that survives today is the third one built in the same place, and it was completed around 510 BC.

Temple of Aphaea, Aegina

This is a Doric temple, although the influence of Ionic architecture is prominently seen. The temple was built of limestone, and had 32 columns twelve on each side and six at the front and back.

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