What is the Temple of Poseidon?

The Temple of Poseidon is an ancient Greek temple located on the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula in Greece. It was built in the 5th century BCE and is dedicated to the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. The temple is one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens and is an example of the high point of Greek art and architecture.

The temple was designed by the Greek architect Iktinos, who also designed the Parthenon in Athens. It was built using white marble from the nearby quarries of Cape Sounion and has 34 columns, each standing 6 meters tall. The temple was an important sanctuary in ancient Greece and was visited by many pilgrims who came to make offerings to the god Poseidon.

The Temple of Poseidon has been damaged and reconstructed several times over the centuries. It was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BCE, rebuilt by Pericles in 440 BCE, and then damaged again by the Romans. The temple was abandoned in the 6th century CE and fell into ruin. In the 19th century, it was restored by the Greek government and is now a popular tourist attraction.