Temple of Poseidon - Athens

South of Athens, at the tip of the mainland, stood an ancient Greek temple that is definitely worth visiting. Perched high on a cliff above the sea, the Temple of Poseidon proudly stands. Standing among the ancient columns, watching the sun set and set the Aegean Sea ablaze, we felt like our journey had come full circle. The current temple was built between 444 and 440 BC, during the Golden Age of Athens. It replaced an earlier temple from the 6th century BC, which had been destroyed by the Persians. The temple is dedicated to Poseidon, the god of the sea, and served as a sanctuary for sailors seeking protection for their voyages. Naturally, we had to make a stop here! Originally, the temple had 34 columns, of which 16 still stand today. Each column is about 6 meters high and made from local marble. In the center of the temple stood a bronze statue of Poseidon, reaching up to the ceiling. Cape Sounion held great strategic importance for Athens. The location provided an excellent view of the sea routes and served as a lookout point for enemy ships. It was also a sacred site where sailors made offerings to Poseidon for a safe crossing.