Cape Sounio
Sounio is the name of the cape located at the southern end of the prefecture of Attica, where the Attic sky meets the Aegean Sea. Its shores are rocky and steep and it stands almost vertically from the sea at a great height.
Sounio is known for its important geographical location but also for the ruins of the ancient temple of Poseidon, the mythical god of the sea, found on it. Standing on top of the steep cliffs of Sounio, the temple whispers its myths and history from antiquity to the present day.
For the ancient city-state of Athens Sounio was an important strategic point as it provided Athens with the needed control of the sea passage to the Aegean and Piraeus which was Athens' main port. In addition, Sounio offered security and coverage to the peninsula of Lavrion, which with its rich mines made Athens a superpower in the 5th centrury before the common era.
The archeological site of Sounio has been on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2014, along with the mines of Ancient Lavrion.
The Site
The Temple Of Poseidon
Homer was the first to testify about the sanctity of the area from the 8th century bce. In the Archaic period the sanctuary was prosperous, with an altar dedicated to Poseidon and two large Kouroi statues, that are kept today at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Towards the end of the period, a monumental temple made of porphyry was built, which was destroyed by the Persians before it was completed in 480 bce.
The Doric temple we see today that occupies an area of five acres, was rebuilt on the foundations of the previous one in 448 bce and was ordered by Pericles. For its construction, local marble from Agrileza was used as well as members from the previous temple. Its architect is unknown, but the temple of Hephaestus in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the temple of Mars in Acharnes and the temple of Nemesis in Ramnountas are attributed to him, as these four temples were almost identical to each other. The mysterious architect decorated the temple with sculptures from Parian marble depicting the achievements of Theseus as well as battles with Centaurs and Giants. The statues that have been saved are in the Museum of Lavrio.
The Fortress
The city-state of Athens, in order to protect its territory, had fortified strategically important positions in its remote areas. Sounio and the place of worship of Poseidon could not be an exception. The walls of the fortress are 400 meters long, cutting the cape off from the land. They enclose an area of forty acres occupied by the Temple of Poseidon and the settlement.
The entrance to the fortress was through the gate in the northwestern part of the wall. From there, ascending the settlement that covered the slopes, the visitor ended up in the propylon of the temple. Today the visitor enters the fortress unorthodoxly, jumping over the eastern part of the wall.
The Settlement
Most of the fortress is occupied by the settlement that belonged to the Municipality of Sounio, as it was formed with the state reform of Cleisthenes in 510 bce. The settlement was the center of the Municipality, with a main street and blocks that were defined by narrower streets of which only a part of them is visible today. The houses were mostly occupied by military personnel and it lasted a long time as the houses have undergone many repairs and alterations. The remains that we see today are dated back to the Hellenistic Era - 3rd century bce.
The Port
The port of Sounio is located in the sandy bay north of the fortress, protected from the winds. It was a large naval base in Athens and a trading port. The merchant ships were dragged on the sandy beach while for the parking and maintenance of the warships shipyards were built and we can see their remains today.
The Temple of Athena
On the opposite hill, to the northeast of the Temple of Poseidon, we can see the foundations of the Temple of Athena at Sounio. Although it was built after the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens, the Temple of Athena at Sounio was not as known and together with the small Temple of Artemis located in the area, were destroyed and converted to building materials, most likely for the Ancient and Roman Agoras of Athens, during the Roman period.
The Abandonment
The Temple of Poseidon and the area of Sounio were abandoned with the decline of the ancient religion. The temple was gradually deserted during the Roman period and became the target of antiquity looting and destruction. On the pillars of the Temple today, there are engraved names of travelers passing by Athens during the Roman and Ottoman periods. In recent years, parts of the Temple have been torn down and moved to museums and private collections in Europe. We can hear the sanctuary wispering in various cities, such as Venice, Berlin, Paris, and Chatsworth in England, where five pieces of a column support the statue of the 6th Duke of Devonshire.
Access To Sounio and Site Information
Sounio is located at the end of the Athenian Riviera, 70 km from the center of Athens. You can reach it by intercity bus from Egyptou Square in the City of Athens - 5 to 8 euro, driving along the coastal front of Attica - 9 to 13 euro, or by taxi from Koropi Suburban Station or the City of Athens - 40 to 70 euro.
The tickets to the Archaeological Site cost 10 euro for a full and 5 euro for a reduced ticket. Sounio is a place that is definitely worth your visit! It opens at 9:30 in the morning and closes after sunset that is one of the most beautiful you will see in Attica.
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