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Temple of Hephaestus, Athens

4.8

#3 of 66 in Historic Sites in Athens

Ruin Religious Site

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Little changed in the two millennia since its completion, making Temple of Hephaestus recognizable to many on the northwestern corner of Athens' centrally located ancient agora. Dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, the Doric temple once stood in the middle of a busy area housing foundries and metalwork shops. Built around 450 BCE of marble carried here from a nearby mountain, the temple features 34 columns and an Ionic frieze portraying the mythical twelve labors of Heracles (Hercules). Christians converted the temple into a church in the 7th century and held services inside until 1833. To gain a better understanding of the ancient world's everyday life, take a guided tour of the temple and the surrounding archeological site. Before you visit Athens, use our trip planner to discover what you can do and see there.

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Temple of Hephaestus Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4,492 reviews

Google

4.8

facebook

4.8

287 likes

• By dkolka

  In the Ancient Agora area - a lovely peaceful oasis in a busy city. The temple is impressive and remarkably well restored, take time to visit  more »

• By Dave p K

  Breathtaking building built by the ancient Greeks truly another of the must see building when you visit this amazing historic city .  more »

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Google

• By Jianna Lavarias

  Loved it. There was this weird man reading a book. He ended up being on Google Maps. Overall this place was fun and I loved going on a vacation here.

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• By EFG Manju

  Scenic beauty all around. The drive to the place is wonderful too. The history is baffling. A good place to visit.

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