Sounion

The temple of Poseidon, standing some 60 m above the sea at the edge of a cliff on Cape Sounion, is one of the most breathtaking and deeply moving sights in all of Greece. The temple is an hour's drive from central Athens. The road runs along the Samnic coast and one can enjoy the endless and brilliant blue sea. If you are travelling by car make sure you stop for a breath of sea scented air and a walk on the beach. You will also find many coffee shops, fresh fish tavernas and ouzeri along the way. This is the place where the ancient Greeks worshipped their mighty god of the seas, Poseidon. The 15 (of the original 34) columns of the Doric order that are still standing, belong to the temple that wes built here during the Golden Age of Perikles' Athens, over the relics of an older one. The architect is unknown, but it is believed to be the same who built the Theseion in Athens. The finds in the area show that Poseidon was worshipped here long before the 5th century B.C.

It is worth walking for about 400m from the temple of Poseidon to the sanctuary of Athena Sounias. The understructures of two temples can be seen here: A bigger one, which was built either circa 470 B.C. or during the Peloponnesean war and a smaller one, about which opinions diverge. Some archaeologists maintain that the remains are of an older temple also dedicated to Athena built in 600-550 B.C. Others believe that it was dedicated to Artemis.