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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

4,468 reviews

Google

4.8

facebook

4.8

287 likes

• By Ericthomas928

  Simply amazing! Really cool what men built with their own hands. Well preserved. Well worth the time to see it. I'll always remember it.  more »

• By jordanellie41

  This temple is a monumental sight sitting at the very top of the site. It's definitely worth visiting even if you don't have the multi-ticket. It can sometimes be difficult to get good photos as it's....  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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