The Sanctuary at Sounion is one of the most important sanctuaries in Attica. Finds point to the conclusion that the site was inhabited in the prehistoric period . "Sounion Hieron" (sanctuary of Sounion) is first mentioned in the Odyssey, as the place where Menelaus stopped during his return from Troy to bury his helmsman, Phrontes Onetorides.
The finds dated of 7th century BC indicating the existence of organized cult on two points of the promontory: at the southern edge , the Temple of Poseidon and about 500 m. to the NE of it, the Sanctuary of Athena .
Important votive offerings were dedicated during the 6th century B.C., but the architectural form of Sanctuary remained unpretentious until the beginning of the 5th century B.C., when the Athenians initiated the construction of an imposing poros temple in the temenos (greek: τέμενος, 'enclosure', was a ground delimited and consecrated to a god ) of Poseidon, but building was never completed and was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC.
In the following decades, Sounion, like the rest of Attica, flourished, and an important building project was undertaken .
At the end of the 5th century and during the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians fortified Sounion Cape.
From the 1st century BC. onwards, the sanctuarie gradually declined .
The site of the temple was known in the following centuries, as is proved by descriptions of modern travellers, who visited Sounion before the excavations started. Several of them, carved their names on the ruins, e.g. Lord Byron.
At the end of the Archaic period the imposing Temple was constructed in the position one seen today, but it was slightly smaller in dimensions.
It was Doric, made of paros, with an external colonnade of 6 x 13 columns, and an internal one which supported the roof. Its construction was interrupted by the Persian invasion and the temple remained unfinished.
The later temple, that is preserved today, was also Doric, with 6 x 13 columns, made of Agrileza marble, but without an internal colonnade. The stylobate measured 13,47 x 31,12 m. It was constructed in 450-440 B.C. The sculptural decoration of the temple, made of Parian marble, is preserved in poor condition. The frieze of the east side , depicted Centauromachy, and the east pediment (of which only a seated female figure is preserved) probably depicted the fight between Poseidon and Athena for the domination of Attica. The two antae of the east side and several of the columns of the east part of the temple are still preserved today, while the west is completely destroyed.
Sounion Cape was fortified in 412 B.C. during the Peloponnesian War, in order to control and secure the ships carrying cereals to Athens.
The use of various materials and construction techniques is probably the result of repairs and additions made during the Chremonideios War and following years (266-229 B.C.)
Shipyards for the sheltering of two war ships were constructed on the coast of the fortification.
Inside the fortress, excavations have brought to light part of a central street, remains of houses, and water cisterns.
The temple was made of marble found nearby and once housed a large statue of Poseidon in its main hall.
Poseidon was the Greek Mythology god of the seas, and it only seems fitting that a temple built to honor him should be found at water’s edge. In ancient Greece, religion was based around the belief that different gods controlled various aspects of the natural world. To ensure good fortune, one would either pray, bear gifts or make sacrifices to the various gods in order to appease them.
Although the Greek gods were immortal and had special powers, they were prone to experiencing the same emotions as humans. It was thus deemed necessary that they be kept happy. As ancient cultures in Greece relied heavily on the sea for commercial and spiritual purposes, it would only make sense then that the Greek god of the sea would hold a great deal of respect among ancient Greeks.
Poseidon was very powerful, second only to Zeus, and he was believed to also be the controller of storms. The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion was a place where sailors and governing bodies alike could honor Poseidon by offering gifts or making animal sacrifices.
Source : - http://www.gtp.gr/
- http://www.sacred-destinations.com/
- http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/
