Archaeological Site of Sounion

The archaeological site of Cape Sounion with the Doric temple of Poseidon, at the southernmost tip of Attica.

Opening hours unknownAdmission €20

About the museum

On the headland of Sounion, at the southernmost tip of Attica on the Aegean, the temple of Poseidon dominates the scene. The Doric temple was built in the mid-5th century BC on the highest point of the headland, in the centre of the sanctuary, on the ruins of an older temple that had not been completed when the Persians destroyed the sanctuaries of Athens. On the landward side the sanctuary was protected by a built enclosure wall. Byzantine and later sailors used the temple as a point of orientation and called the headland Kavokolones.

The frieze of the temple depicted scenes from the Centauromachy and the Gigantomachy, which expressed the victory of the Athenians over the Persians; some of the relief slabs are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Lavrio. The headland was a strategic point on the border of Athenian territory: from there, ships heading for Piraeus were watched, and the silver mines of Laurion were protected. At the entrance to the north harbour the ancient naval station survives, from which armed triremes set sail in case of danger.

On the hill opposite, the foundations of the temple of Athena survive, which the Roman architect Vitruvius described centuries later. Sounion is mentioned in the Odyssey as a sacred place, and according to tradition King Aegeus threw himself into the sea from its rocks, after whom the Aegean is named. Visitors have enjoyed the sunset from the headland in every age, among them the poet Lord Byron.

Highlights

Doric temple of Poseidon from the 5th century BC on the highest point of the headland
Foundations of the temple of Athena on the hill opposite
Ancient naval station at the entrance to the north harbour
Built enclosure wall of the sanctuary on the landward side
View over the Aegean and the sunset from the headland

Operated by: Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Ανατολικής Αττικής

Admission & discounts

Adults	€20
Reduced	€10Citizens of Greece and other member states of the European Union over 65 years of age from 1 October to 31 May, accompanying parents on educational visits of primary schools, and accompanying teachers on educational visits of schools and institutions.

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.