Temple of Athena Alea

About the museum

The temple of Athena Alea, the work of the famous Parian sculptor and architect Skopas, held a prominent position in Arcadian worship and was the second-largest temple in the whole of the Peloponnese, after the temple of Olympian Zeus. It was built in the 4th century BC on the ruins of an older temple dedicated to a female deity, who was gradually identified with Athena, and it was built entirely of marble.

Although it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 6th century AD, its grandeur is still apparent. Skopas was an innovator, as he used elements from all three architectural orders, the Doric, Corinthian and Ionic. The pediment sculptures, some of which are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Tegea, masterfully depict mythological scenes, such as the hunt of the Calydonian boar.

Highlights

• Work of Skopas from Paros
• Second-largest temple in the Peloponnese
• Combination of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders
• Pediments with the hunt of the Calydonian boar, partly in the Tegea Museum

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Αρκαδίας

Admission & discounts

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.

Free admission and reduced tickets are available to special categories of visitors, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

On foot: about 3 minutes from the centre of the settlement of Alea. By car: about 15 minutes from Tripoli.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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