The Doric temple of Athena Aphaia, located in a sanctuary complex οn the Aegina island, in the Saronic gulf, Greece
The temple of Athena Aphaia is built on an astonishing viewpoint to the sea waters of the Saronic gulf, in the northern part of the island which is covered with pine trees. It is very well preserved ancient sanctuary with twenty-four pillars out of the total 34, still standing in excellent condition. It has been built in 480 just after Salamina's naval battle. Pausanias gives us more information about Aphaia the goddess as the name Aphaia appeared on all the local signs. According to those Aphaia being the name of a Cretan woman Britomartis of unsurpassed beauty was born from Zeus and Karmi and because she liked hunting very much, Goddess Artemis was fond of her. Minoas fell in love with Vritomartis and in order to get away from him, she fell into the sea where she got tangled up in some fishermen's nets who took her on their ship. But then, when a sailor on the ship fell in love with her, in order to escape from him she was forced again to fall into the sea and swim to the island. The girl headed towards the forest of Aegina and the sailors on the ship watched her vanishing on the hill of the temple. Supposing she was taken by the Gods, they named her "Aphaia" from the word "aphandos" which in Greek means that someone has vanished into thin air. With a clear sky, from this viewpoint one can see even the Poseidon's temple located in Sounio and the Acropolis of Athens! It is said that these three ancient buildings, Aphaia's temple, Poseidon's temple in Sounio and the Acropolis in Athens form a triangle (the holy triangle of ancient times)
Size: 7083px × 4793px
Location: Aphaia archaeological site Aegina island Saronic gulf Piraeus Attica Greece Europe Mediterranean sea
Photo credit: © GERMAINE ALEXAKIS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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