CAPE SOUNION at Classical Period I
by MITNIC
Sounion
A rocky peninsula jutting into the sea at the S end of the region lies 69 km SE of Athens. It is famous for its classical marble temple which was built on the highest point of the cape and dedicated to the god Poseidon. It became the site of religious activities at least as early as 700 B.C. and in later times it was frequently used as a place of sanctuary by slaves who had run away from the nearby silver mines at Laurion. The earliest literary reference to the site occurs in the Odyssey (3.278) where it is said that Phrontis, Menelaus' pilot, was struck down by Apollo as he was passing the sacred cape; in the winter of 413-412 B.C. during the Peloponnesian War, it was fortified to protect the ships carrying corn to Athens (Thuc. 8.4); and later it was held by the slaves from the mines at Laurion during a civic unheaval (Posidonios, cited by Athenaeus, 6272ff).
Take a tour to Sounio from Athens
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
This is a great half-day tour option for travelers looking to explore Greece beyond the confines of Athens, complete with stunning views and world-class Greek ruins.
If you happen to visit or even live somewhere in Athens or its area you will be probably suggested to take an evening tour to Sounio which is situated 70 km to the South of Athens. There are two reasons to agree: the first you will see the Temple of Poseidon (and it will be quite enough not to be sorry for the choice) and the second and the main - you will see fabulous sunset which is considered to be the most wonderful in Attica!
I’ve taken this tour in November of 2007 when the sun set at 17.30. So all the excursion took me 4 hours: 2 hours to Sounio with several stops at the sea coast, an hour for Sounio itself and an hour for coming back to the hotel in Vravrona near Athens.
It cost me 40€.
Phone: 22920 39363
Hours: Daily 10am-sunset
Additional fee inside the sight: €4.
You may watch my high resolution photo of Sounio on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37º 38' 57.87" N 24º 1' 36.01" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Sounio Poseidon Temple.
AEGEAN SEA
by LoriPori
A sea arm of the Mediterranean Sea, the AEGEAN SEA is located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian Peninsulas, ie between Greece and Turkey.
In ancient times there were various explanations for the name Aegean. It is believed to have been named after the Greek town of Aegae, or Aegea, a queen of the Amazons who died in the Sea or Aigaion the "sea goat". The popular belief, especially among Athenians, is that it was named after Aegeus, the father of Theseus, who drowned himself in the sea when he thought his son had died.
The temple of Poseidon
by Aggeliki
The most important sanctuaries for the ancient greek god Poseidon and Athina were built on Sounio Cape. The temple of Poseidon, was built on the summit of the rock rises 60m above the sea, and was surrounded by walls.It was built between 444 and 440 BC. on the orders of Pericles probably the work of the same architect who built the Theseum in Athens. Ancient Greeks believed that Sounio was the house of Poseidon, the God of the Sea.
Ticket
by gale.blog.pl
Here's a ticket to one of the objects :-) Just to let you know what it looks like.
Don't pay much attention to the price, I'm a student so I pay only half price - and I don't remember what sort of ticket this one was, full-price or half-price ;-)))
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See the buses? (left corner)
Aigyptou Square, looking east
Intersection with Patision St (Aigyptou Square)
Street vendors at the disembarkation stop
