The Temple of Aphaia (or Aphaea or Afea) is dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphaia and is one of the most important archaelogical sites in Greece. It is located approximately 13 km east by road from the main port (town). It stands on the top of a hill covered by pine trees, offering excellent views of Aegina and the Saronic Gulf.
It was built in the early 5th century BC to form the well known “sacred triangle” with the temple of Poseidon (Sounio) and the Parthenon (Athens). It was probably abandoned a few decades after it was built when Aegina's inhabitants were driven from the island by the Athenians.
This beautiful temple of 500 BC was built over the remains of an earlier temple of 570 BC, which was destroyed by fire (510 BC).
Elements of this destroyed temple were buried in the infill for the larger later temple and are well preserved. It is believed that there was another temple in this site (7th century BC) which was smaller and simpler.
Discoveries of significant quantities of Late Bronze age figurines in the area (mostly female), indicate that cult activity was continuous from the 14th cent. BC in the aera. This also indicates a Minoan connection.
The temple has an unusual plan and it used to have important sculptures, which are thought to illustrate the change from Archaic to Early Classical technique. These sculptures are now housed in Munich's Sculpture Gallery. There is also a number of fragments exhibited in Aegina's archaeological Museum and and on the site's Museum.
OPENING HOURS: Daily: 08.15-19.00, except Greek Holidays