Cape Sounion is located at approximately 65 km south-east of Athens. It is famous as the site of ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon. Since it is not too far from Athens, I decided to have a half-day excursion to Temple of Poseidon in the noon.
My son playing peek-a-boo on the bus on the way to Temple of Poseidon.
The journey by the coastline took about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
On the way to Sounion, I could see a lot of beaches along the coastal line.
The beautiful Aegean Sea.
We’ve arrived at the site of Temple of Poseidon. We waited at the cafe nearby the temple while our tour guide bought our entrance tickets.
The entrance ticket costs EUR 4 for adults.
Opening hours is daily from 8 am till sunset.
Cape Sounion is a strategic point whence the city-state of Athens controlled the sea passage to the Aegean Sea and Piraeus, the central port. Inside the fortress, the summit is occupied by the sanctuary of Poseidon. Nowadays, visitors enters the fortress crossing over the east part of the wall.
Numerous archaeological finds prove that the area was in use as long ago as 700 BC. Homer was the first to refer to Sounion as “the sacred cape of the Athenians”.
It sure was a windy day!
The archaeological site of Sounion.
The Temple of Poseidon was built about 440 BC, to replaced an earlier temple that had been destroyed by the Persians. Fifteen columns still remain standing but much of the west side of the temple has been destroyed.
For a maritime country like Greece, the god of the sea (Poseidon) was considered second only to Zeus.
People came here to offer animal sacrifice or gifts to Poseidon.
Inside the temple, there would be a huge bronze statue of Poseidon.
Well, that's what is left of the temple of Poseidon.
Romantic poet Lord Byron supposedly, carved his name in the middle column here.
I zoomed in and managed to capture his carved name. Byron.
From his poem Isles of Greece, “Place me on Sunium’s marbled steep, Where nothing save the waves, There swan like let me sing and die!!”
The Temple of Poseidon is dramatically poised on a 60m cliff, with stunning view over the Aegean Sea.
A beach resort nearby.
The layout plan showing the archaeological site of Sounion.
The remains of the fortress wall. The walls extend to 400m on the north and east sides, cutting off the cape from the land.
The southernmost tip of mainland Greece.
Many people actually come here to watch the glorious sunsets from Temple of Poseidon. I didn’t stay for the sunset view since it was too early so I didn’t find out how the sunset view is. If you have a lot of time while staying in Athens, then a half day excursion here is recommended.
Great post!
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