Athens Hephaestus temple

Location: Thissio

The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens (also known as Thissio, hence the namesake neighborhood that houses it) is among the best-preserved ancient temples in Greece.
It was dedicated to Hephaestus, the Olympian god of fire, and Athena, the Olympian goddess of wisdom, strategy and crafts.

According to archaeologists, the temple was built around 450 BC at the western edge of the city, on top of Agoreos Koronos Hill - a hillock that served as a meeting point for ancient craftsmen. 
It is a classical example of Dorian architecture, built due to Pericles' plan to rebuild sanctuaries in Athens and was designed by Iktinus, the main architect of the Parthenon.

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More information about the Temple of Hephaestus

The temple has six (6) columns on the east and west sides and thirteen (13) on the north and south sides.
Its friezes and other decorations have been greatly damaged by earthquakes and invasions over the centuries. The temple is located in Thissio, in proximity to the Acropolis and Monastiraki, just above the Ancient Agora and the Stoa of Attalos.
It was built with Pentelic marble, while its sculptures are made of Parian marble.
It has a pronaos (front porch), a cella (the center of the temple which housed the statues of the gods), and an opisthodomos (back porch). The temple is peripheral, with columns that surround the centrally enclosed cella. Both of them are decorated with friezes.

The east and west sides of the temple are shorter while the north and south sides are longer.
On the eastern front of the temple, there are sculptures depicting the labors of Hercules and the battle of Theseus with the Pallentides, the fifty children of Pallas.
On the west side, the sculptures depict the fall of Troy.

From the 7th century AD until 1834, the temple served as an Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George.
In 1834, the church held a doxology to commemorate the arrival of King Otto and the proclamation of Athens as the Greek capital city.
King Otto then ordered the building to be turned into a museum where it actually remained as such until 1937.
Nowadays, the temple is considered one of the greatest ancient monuments in Greece.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Temple of Hephaestus from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Temple of Hephaestus is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Thissio and Monastiraki metro stations in less than 10 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro stations are Thissio (Green Line) and Monastiraki (Green Line and Blue Line). Note that the Temple of Hephaestus is located within a 10-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is "Monastiraki". Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.

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