About Temple of Aphea in Aegina Island

The Temple of Aphaia is one of the most important monuments of Archaic Greek architecture and one of the most remarkable archaeological sites on the island of Aegina. Standing on a pine-covered hill above Agia Marina, the temple enjoys panoramic views across the Saronic Gulf.

The sanctuary was dedicated to Aphaia, a local goddess worshipped almost exclusively on Aegina. The surviving Doric temple was constructed around 500 BC, shortly before the great Classical monuments of Athens, and its architecture and sculptural decoration mark an important transition from the Archaic to the Early Classical period.

Many of the celebrated sculptures that once decorated the temple's pediments are today displayed in the Glyptothek in Munich, where they are known collectively as the Aegina or Aphaia pediment sculptures.

The Temple of Aphaia at a Glance

• Location: northeastern Aegina, above Agia Marina
• Deity: Aphaia, a local goddess associated in ancient tradition with the Cretan Britomartis
• Earliest cult activity: prehistoric period, approximately 1300 BC
• Surviving temple: approximately 500 BC
• Architectural order: Doric
• Plan: peripteral temple with 6 columns on the short sides and 12 on the long sides
• Building material: local limestone covered with plaster, with marble used for important sculptural elements
• Famous sculptures: pedimental figures depicting episodes connected with the Trojan War

Who Was the Goddess Aphaia?

Aphaia was a local goddess whose cult became particularly important on Aegina.

The ancient traveler Pausanias associated Aphaia with Britomartis, a Cretan goddess closely connected with Artemis.

According to the myth recorded by Pausanias, Britomartis was the daughter of Zeus and Karme and loved hunting. When King Minos of Crete pursued her, she escaped by throwing herself into the sea and became entangled in fishermen's nets.

After being rescued, she was again pursued, this time by a sailor. She escaped to Aegina, where she eventually disappeared from sight. According to the local tradition, the Aeginetans worshipped her under the name Aphaia.

The story belongs to Greek mythology, but archaeological discoveries confirm that a female deity was worshipped at the sanctuary long before the surviving temple was constructed.

The Earliest Sanctuary of Aphaia

Religious activity on the hill began centuries before the construction of the temple visitors see today.

Archaeological finds indicate worship at the site from approximately 1300 BC, during the Late Bronze Age, when the sanctuary appears to have been associated with a female deity.

During historical times, successive temples were constructed on the same sacred site. Earlier buildings were eventually replaced by the monumental temple that survives today.

The Earlier Temples

The surviving Temple of Aphaia was not the first temple constructed at the sanctuary.

Traces of an earlier temple dating to the early 6th century BC have been discovered beneath and around the later monument.

A larger temple was subsequently constructed but was destroyed by fire around the end of the 6th century BC.

Architectural elements from these earlier buildings were incorporated into the terrace and other constructions when the sanctuary was rebuilt.

The Temple of Aphaia Around 500 BC

The temple visible today was constructed approximately around 500 BC and represents one of the finest surviving examples of late Archaic Doric architecture.

It is a Doric peripteral temple, originally surrounded by a colonnade of six columns on each short side and twelve on each long side.

The pronaos and opisthodomos each contained two columns in antis, while the interior cella was divided into three aisles by two rows of columns.

Inside the cella, the columns were arranged on two levels, creating a sophisticated architectural system that supported the roof while emphasizing the central sacred space.

Architecture and Materials

The temple was constructed primarily from local limestone, traditionally described as local poros stone.

The limestone surfaces were covered with a fine layer of plaster, giving the building a more uniform appearance than the exposed stone visible today.

The important sculptural decoration of the pediments and several architectural details were made from Parian marble.

Like other Greek temples, the Temple of Aphaia was not originally an entirely white monument. Architectural and sculptural elements were decorated with color, creating a much richer visual appearance than the surviving ruins suggest.

The Pedimental Sculptures

The most internationally famous works associated with the Temple of Aphaia are the sculptures that once filled its eastern and western pediments.

The scenes represent heroic battles connected with the Trojan War, with the goddess Athena occupying a central position.

Several heroes associated with Aegina and the legendary family of King Aeacus appear within these traditions, connecting the temple's decoration with the island's mythical past.

The sculptures are particularly important to art historians because the two pediments demonstrate changes in Greek sculpture around the beginning of the 5th century BC.

The earlier figures retain many characteristics of Archaic sculpture, while later figures display greater anatomical realism, natural movement and emotional expression associated with the transition toward the Early Classical style.

The Aphaia Sculptures in Munich

Most of the surviving pedimental figures from the Temple of Aphaia are today preserved in the Glyptothek in Munich, Germany.

The sculptures were discovered during early 19th-century excavations and subsequently acquired for the collection of the Bavarian crown.

Today, they form one of the most important groups of Greek architectural sculpture displayed in the Glyptothek and provide an exceptional opportunity to study the development of Greek sculpture around 500 BC.

Why Athena Appears on the Temple

The prominent presence of Athena in the pedimental sculptures once contributed to uncertainty about the identity of the deity worshipped at the sanctuary.

Archaeological research and inscriptions, however, established that the sanctuary was dedicated to Aphaia.

Athena's appearance in the sculptural decoration does not mean that the temple itself was dedicated to her. Her role is connected with the mythological battle scenes represented on the pediments.

The Excavations of the Sanctuary

The sanctuary attracted the attention of European scholars during the 19th century, when its famous sculptures were discovered.

A major systematic archaeological investigation began in 1901 under the German archaeologist Adolf Furtwängler.

Further excavations and research during the 20th century clarified the development of the sanctuary and confirmed its connection with the goddess Aphaia.

Modern restoration and conservation work has helped preserve the temple, which remains remarkably impressive more than 2,500 years after its construction.

The Sanctuary Around the Temple

The Temple of Aphaia formed only one part of a larger sanctuary.

To the east stood the altar where sacrifices were performed, while the sanctuary also contained a monumental entrance, supporting walls and additional buildings associated with religious activity.

The arrangement of these buildings shows that worship at Aphaia's sanctuary involved much more than entering the temple itself. Religious ceremonies took place throughout the sacred precinct.

The So-Called Sacred Triangle

A popular modern story claims that the Temple of Aphaia, the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion and the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens form a sacred or equilateral triangle.

The three temples do create an interesting geographical relationship across Attica and the Saronic Gulf, but the claim that they form an exact equilateral triangle is not geographically accurate, and there is no known ancient evidence showing that the three sanctuaries were intentionally planned as part of such a geometric arrangement.

It is therefore better understood as a popular modern tradition rather than an established fact about ancient Greek temple planning.

Aegina – A Major Maritime Power

The importance of the Temple of Aphaia reflects the prosperity of ancient Aegina.

During the Archaic period, Aegina developed into one of the most important commercial and maritime powers of the Greek world. Its merchants maintained trading connections throughout the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.

The island's economic success is reflected in its monumental sanctuaries, rich archaeological remains and influential coinage.

The Famous Aeginetan Coins

Aegina was among the earliest Greek communities to issue silver coinage and is generally regarded as the first major minting center of mainland Greece.

The earliest Aeginetan silver staters were produced during the 6th century BC.

They became famous for the image of a sea turtle on the front and circulated widely throughout the Greek world.

Aegina's monetary standard became highly influential, and its coins were used and imitated in several regions of Greece and the Mediterranean.

It is therefore more accurate to describe Aegina as one of the pioneers of Greek silver coinage rather than as “the first city in the Western world to mint coins.”

Aegina and Athens

Aegina's growing naval and commercial strength eventually brought the island into rivalry with nearby Athens.

Despite their rivalry, the Aeginetans took an important part in the Greek resistance during the Persian Wars and fought in the great naval Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.

During the following decades, however, the balance of power in the Saronic Gulf shifted increasingly toward Athens, and Aegina eventually lost much of its former political independence and maritime influence.

Mythology of Aegina and King Aeacus

According to Greek mythology, the island took its name from the nymph Aegina.

Zeus fell in love with Aegina and brought her to the island, where she gave birth to Aeacus.

Aeacus became the legendary first king of Aegina and was famous in Greek mythology for his justice and piety.

His descendants included some of the greatest heroes associated with the Trojan War. Through this legendary family, Aegina was linked with figures such as Ajax and Achilles, helping explain the strong Trojan War themes represented in the pedimental sculptures of the Temple of Aphaia.

Ancient Aegina and Kolona

Human settlement on Aegina began long before the construction of the Temple of Aphaia.

The archaeological site of Kolona, close to the modern town of Aegina, preserves evidence of settlement extending back into prehistoric times.

During the Bronze Age, the island participated in maritime trade networks connecting the Saronic Gulf with the Cyclades, Crete and mainland Greece.

Kolona later became an important religious and urban center and preserves the remains of the Temple of Apollo, whose surviving column gives the archaeological site its modern name.

Aegina and Ioannis Kapodistrias

Aegina also played an important role in the formation of the modern Greek state following the Greek War of Independence.

In 1828, Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of Greece, arrived on the island and established his government there.

Aegina served as the seat of the Greek government during the early Kapodistrian period before the administration was transferred to Nafplio.

Several important institutions of the new state were established on the island, leaving Aegina with a unique collection of buildings connected with the first years of modern Greece.

The Kapodistrian Orphanage

One of the most important monuments from this period is the Kapodistrian Orphanage.

Construction began in 1828, and the institution opened in 1829 to house and educate children who had been orphaned during the Greek War of Independence.

It was the first major public building constructed under the administration of Kapodistrias and later served several different purposes during its long history.

Palaiochora

Another important historical location on Aegina is Palaiochora, the island's medieval settlement located on a hill inland.

For centuries, the settlement provided greater protection from pirate raids and other threats affecting coastal communities.

Although most of the houses have disappeared, numerous historic churches survive among the ruins, creating one of the island's most atmospheric historical landscapes.

The Monastery of Saint Nektarios

Close to Palaiochora stands the Monastery of Saint Nektarios, one of the most important Orthodox pilgrimage destinations on Aegina.

Saint Nektarios lived on the island during the early 20th century and founded the religious community associated with the monastery.

His tomb and relics are preserved there, and thousands of Orthodox pilgrims visit the monastery every year to honor the saint.

Aegina Town Today

The modern town of Aegina is the island's principal settlement and port.

Its waterfront, narrow streets and neoclassical buildings reflect both the island's maritime traditions and its important role during the early years of the modern Greek state.

Horse-drawn carriages remain a characteristic sight along the waterfront, while restaurants, cafes and shops make the town one of the liveliest areas of the island.

Aegina and the Pistachio

Aegina is internationally known for the Aegina pistachio, one of the island's most characteristic agricultural products.

Pistachio cultivation became an important part of the island's agricultural economy during the modern period, and today the product is closely associated with Aegina's identity and gastronomy.

Visitors can find pistachios in many forms throughout the island, including roasted nuts, sweets, spreads and other local products.

Nikos Kazantzakis and Aegina

The celebrated Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek, also had a strong connection with Aegina.

He spent important periods of his life on the island and lived in a house he built there during the 20th century.

Aegina therefore occupies a place not only in ancient and modern political history but also in the cultural history of modern Greece.

The Temple of Aphaia Today

Today, the Temple of Aphaia remains one of the finest surviving monuments of ancient Aegina.

Its well-preserved Doric columns, elevated position and views across the Saronic Gulf make it an exceptional archaeological destination.

The sanctuary is particularly valuable because it allows visitors to understand the transition from Archaic to Classical Greek architecture and sculpture while also discovering the history of a local goddess whose worship was closely connected with the identity of Aegina.

The combination of archaeology, mythology, architecture and landscape makes the Temple of Aphaia one of the highlights of any visit to the island.