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. Plan a Athens trip in moments using our itinerary builder.
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Temple of Hephaestus reviews
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We were impressed by the structural integrity of this ancient site, so well preserved after all these years. This and the Acropolis were the best sites if you’re on a short timetable, though there’s..... more
We were impressed by the structural integrity of this ancient site, so well preserved after all these years. This and the Acropolis were the best sites if you’re on a short timetable, though there’s..... more »
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nice aerchological site with large park to walk around. temple is in good shape, museum and park quite interesting to see. can be visited with the 5 day ticket
nice aerchological site with large park to walk around. temple is in good shape, museum and park quite interesting to see. can be visited with the 5 day ticket more »
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Great forge! You can access the hidden temple if you have demigod ancestry, and you can get a lot of unique artifacts with the guarantee of Hephaestus quality seal! Be warned, they only accept Ancient Drachma.
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As impressive as the Akropolis is, it is under perpetual restoration and quite busy. The temple of Hephaestus is located in a beautiful site and is much better preserved, giving a far better insight into how it must have looked in ancient times. Highly recommended!
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