Temple of Aphaia, Aegina

TEMPLE OF APHAIA

MYTHOLOGY

Aphaia is said to be a mountain and hunting goddess who protects shipping and Aegina was an important shipping area of the region.

This temple is dedicated to Aphaia as legends say that she disappeared on this location.

LOCATION• Situated on Aegina Island in

the Aegean Sea.• Built in 5th century BC and

the maritime prosperity of Aegina is the reason for the beautifully built Temple.

• Located on a pine-clad hill known as Mesagro which is 160m in height on the north-eastern side of the island.

COURSE OF TIME It was built in 480 BC and

nearly 25 out of the original 32 Doric columns still stand due to the skill of the restorers.

The temple was built over the ruins of an earlier temple built around 570 BC that existed at the very site but was later destroyed in the fire in 510 BC.

PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION

Hexastyle peripteral doric order structure on a 6 x 12 column plan resting on a 15.5m x 30.5m platform.

Three outer columns were monolithic.

3 stepped sloping ramp provided access at the east end.

Conjectural Sketch


As compared to the other temples, this has an unusual plan and is mostly known for their beautiful sculptures that shows a remarkable progress from Archaic to Early classical techniques.

The plan provides symmetrical sections in both the co-ordinates.

Plan & Section


Built in the Doric style with 32 columns, twelve on each side and six at the front and back.

Plan & Section


It is built in local limestone and was covered with stucco and vivid colours.

Conjectural Graphic


The cella of the temple had the unusual feature of having two rows of two columns supporting another level of columns that reached the roof.

Conjectural Model


The architrave was constructed in two courses, giving it a height of 1.19m versus the frieze height of 0.815m, this proportion is unusual among the temples of the region.

A triglyph and metope frieze is also placed along the inside of the pronaos.

PEDIMENT

Eastern Pediment constructed in Archaic Period – Depicts the first Trojan War.

PEDIMENT

Western Pediment constructed in Classical Period – Depicts the second Trojan War.

PEDIMENT

The composition deals with the decreasing angles of the pediment by filling the space using a shield and a helmet.

PLANNING & LAYOUT

Measures 28.8m x 13.7m along the stylobate.

Height of columns is 5.33 times greater than their width at the base, giving it an elongated, airy feel.

Temple Complex covers an area of 640 M.sq.

PLANNING & LAYOUT

TEMPLE OF POSEIDON

MYTHOLOGY

Poseidon is one of the twelve Olympian deities of the pantheon in Greek mythology.

His main domain is the ocean, and he is called the "God of the Sea".

Additionally, he is referred to as "Earth-Shaker" due to his role in causing earthquakes, and has been called the "tamer of horses".

He is usually depicted as an older male with curly hair and beard.

LOCATION• The dramatic coastal location

of Soúnio (Cape Sounion) in southern Attica was an ideal spot for a Temple of Poseidon, god of the sea.

• Standing atop sheer cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea, the marble temple has served as a landmark for sailors from ancient times to today.

COURSE OF TIMEo Constructed c. 444-440 B.C.

Probably part of Periclean building program

Stands on foundations of an earlier edifice in poros stone

Begun shortly before 490 B.C.

Unfinished at the time of the Persian Wars

Canonical plan

It was constructed in 450-440 B.C. and, according to another theory, was the work of the architect who had also built the Hephaisteion ("Theseion") in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnous, and the Temple of Ares which was probably erected in Acharnes.


It was Doric, with an external colonnade of 6 x 13 columns, and an internal one which supported the roof.


Built in the Doric style with 32 columns, twelve on each side and six at the front and back.

The dimensions were 31.12 × 13.47 m.

The columns had a height of 6.1 meters and are 1 meter in diameter at the base and 79 cm at the top.

Plan


Local marble was used for the Temple of Poseidon's Doric columns;

15 of the original 34 survive today.

The columns were cut with only 16 flutings instead of the usual 20, which reduced the surface area exposed to the wind and sea water.

Conjectural Graphic


It didn’t had an interior colonnade in the cella making its capacity bigger. Also, the frieze was around all four sides of pronaos not just on the part above the entrance.

There was no frieze on the west side nor an inner entablature. Finally, the metopes were left flat and without decoration.

The temple of Poseidon from the west.


The entrance at the sanctuary area was a Doric portico that had three doors.

In the middle one there was a ramp. It was constructed shortly after the temple, of marble and limestone.

In the north and west inside the enclosure there were two stoas that were used to rest the visitors of the sanctuary. The Propylon, the main entrance to the Sanctuary of

Poseidon from the north.The three internal doors are visible.

PEDIMENT The east pediment (of which only a seated female figure is

preserved) probably depicted the fight between poseidon and athena for the domination of attica. The two antae of the east side and several of the columns of the east part of the temple are still preserved today, while the west is completely destroyed.

Education

Temple of Aphaia, Aegina