Stop By the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens
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Athens is one of those cities that has a lot of remnants of its ancient past. Located in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus is a well-preserved Greek temple from Ancient Greece. If you’re visiting Athens, you won’t want to miss this attraction!
About the Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus is a Greek Temple that was built around 450 BC on top of Agoreos Koronos hill. The temple was dedicated to Hephaestus the ancient god of fire and Athena the goddess of pottery and crafts. The Temple of Hephaestus is a classic example of Dorian architecture. It was designed by Iktinus, who also has a hand in designing the Parthenon. The temple is composed of 6 columns on the east and west sides and 13 columns on the long north and south sides.
Sculptures depicting the battle of Thesus, the 50 children of Pallas, and the labors of Hercules can be found on the eastern side of the Temple of Hephaestus. Sculptures depicting the fall of Troy can be found on the western side of the temple. On the north and south side of the temple you will see four feats of Thesus depicted. During excavations, pots were found that had been placed around the temple with bushes or small trees.
The Temple of Hephaestus was an Orthodox church from the 7th century AD until 1834. During this time, the temple was dedicated to Saint George Akamatus. In 1834, the temple was ordered to be used as a museum by King Otto. It would remain a museum until 1934. Today, the Temple of Hephaestus is a well-known and visited monument.
What to Do at the Temple of Hephaestus
If you are visiting Athens, the Temple of Hephaestus is a must-see. It is one of the most well-preserved temples you will find. It’s a wonderful place to take photographs. You can even use the Parthenon as a backdrop. You can explore the Temple of Hephaestus on your own or you can take a tour. There are small group tours and private tours available. The benefit of taking a tour of the temple is that you will learn the history from an experienced guide.
The temple can only be viewed from the outside, but there is still so much to see. Visiting during the early hours is ideal as it can get hot later in the day. Since you’re in the area, you can also visit the Ancient Agora and the Stoa of Attalos. The Stoa of Attalos is a covered walkway that was built by and named after King Attalos II. The building itself was reconstructed in 1952 – 1956.
Getting to the Temple of Hephaestus
The easiest and most convenient way of getting to the Temple of Hephaestus is by public transportation. The Metro as well as a number of buses stop close to the temple. The temple is just a five-minute walk from the Ancient Agora. The walk from the Thissio Metro Station to the Ancient Agora takes only a couple of minutes.
When in Athens, you will want to visit the site of the Temple of Hephaestus.
Categorized in: About Athens, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
