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Sounion is located 68 kilometres from Athens and is a favourite destination for day trips as it combines a visit to the ancient temple of Poseidon with a wonderful view of the Aegean Sea.
The temple of Poseidon, some of its columns still standing today, was built in 450 to 440 BC. It was a sacred place for all Ancient Greeks and especially for the sailors who either left gifts or made animal sacrifices to appease the god of the sea, Poseidon.
It was of Doric style with 6 columns on the narrow side and 13 columns on the wide side and was built on the southernmost and highest parallel point of the cape (60 meters from the sea). In addition, about 500 metres northeast of the temple of Poseidon are the ruins of the sanctuary of Athena.
Accommodation in Sounion
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Theseus and the Aegean Sea
According to legend, the king of Athens, Aegeas , fell from the hill of Sounion when he saw the ship that was bringing his son Theseus from Crete, with a black sail. Theseus had gone to Crete to kill the Minotaur and had promised his father that if all went well he would raise a white sail on his ship.
But the joy of victory and the killing of the Minotaur made Theseus forget the black cloth so that Aegeus, who was waiting anxiously at Sounion, thought that his son was killed by the Minotaur. His despair led him to death and since then the sea where the king’s tomb was buried has been called the Aegean Sea.
text/photos: Yannis Tsouratzis
Photos from Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon
Map of Cape Sounion
Useful phone numbers Sounion
- Sounion Archaeological Site: 22920 39363 Daily 9.30 am until sunset.
Ticket: €4,
people over 65 years €2.
Free entrance for students and young people up to 19 years old, - CTEL OF THE PREFECTURE OF ATTICA: 2108808080
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