The archaeological heritage of Athens is enormous. Wherever you go in the Greek capital there are always traces of Antiquity capable of leaving you speechless. A magnificent example is to contemplate the spectacular Temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora.
The Temple of Hephaestus or Hefesteion is one of the great heritage jewels of Athens . In fact, it is one of the buildings of classical antiquity that has best resisted the passage of time and today it can be seen almost completely rebuilt. It is not the most famous temple in the capital of Greece, but it is impressive and you cannot miss it.
The hills of athens
There are several European cities that grew from the presence of different hills in their urban land. Examples range from Rome to Lisbon, and also the capital of Athens itself is a city with several hills . The most famous of them is the one on which the famous Acropolis rises.
However, there are other noteworthy Athenian hills. And one of them is the Kolonos Agoraios, where the Temple of Hephaestus is preserved . One of the most outstanding constructions of the great archaeological site that is the Ancient Agora, and the area that had to be the great social epicenter of the brilliant Classical Athens. While the sacred area was located on the Acropolis hill with the Parthenon.
Who was Hephaestus?
In Antiquity, historians gave the Temple of Hephaestus another title. It was thought to be a place of homage to Theseus, a mythical king of Athens, but also closely linked to the island of Crete and its legend of the minotaur. The reason must be found in the reliefs that are engraved in the highest part of the construction, in the metopes of the upper frieze .
There the legendary labors of Hercules are represented, and Theseus also appears. However, later studies have concluded that it is fair to speak of a Temple of Hephaestus; that is, dedicated to honoring the god of fire . Which was also the brother of Athena herself, a goddess with whom the city is identified even in his name.
The Temple of Hephaestus and the Doric order
The Temple of Hephaestus is almost 2,500 years old . It is known that its construction began around the year 450 BC. And at that time this type of construction was carried out following the rules of the Doric order.
In this case, it is evident in the layout of its columns, of which there would be 36 in total surrounding the internal sacred area . And the Doric order is not only manifested in its columns, but also in the upper part of the entablature where the metopes would be alternating with triglyphs.
A decorative scheme that is repeated in all contemporary temples, including the Parthenon or other temples spread across Greece and the Mediterranean, as is the case of those preserved on the Italian island of Sicily, where the Greek navigators arrived to settle.
Although it was believed to be a construction in honor of Theseus, it has become clear that this temple pays homage to Hephaestus, the god of fire.
An essential visit
Today, archaeological tours of Athens are numerous, and many of them are accessible with joint tickets . One of those sites that you cannot miss is the Ancient Agora, where the Temple of Hephaestus is located, along with other wonders such as the Portico of Attalus.
You have to imagine this area of the city with all the bustle of the Hellenic capital in ancient times. The place where the great Pericles made his political speeches or where Plato went to wander and present the first approaches to philosophy.
By the way, philosophy is a Greek word that comes to mean friend (phylum) of wisdom (sofia). Another of the many legacies that the Greek civilization has bequeathed to us, capable of generating ideas that survive such as democracy or monuments that resist the passage of millennia, such as the Temple of Hephaestus .
