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The Ultimate History

Guide to Athens, Greece

The Temple of Posideion

2/17/2026

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The Temple of Posideion is located in Cape Sounion, Greece. It's about 70-77km away from Athens, Greece which is about a 75 minute drive from the city. The temple is built on top of a cliff directly above the Aegean Sea, and was constructed because if any sailors wanted to visit Athens they needed to pay tribute to the sea god Posideion.  The temple was built around 444-440 BC in the 5th century. The site is very popular among the tourist due to the views and the way the sun perfectly lines up next to the temple during sunset. 

  Historically Posideion image in Athens is very popular due to the famous myth of how the city got its name. The city was fought over between the sea deity Posideion, and the Goddess Athena. Both gods bestowed gifts to the city in hopes the people would choose them as their patron saint. Athena gave the people an olive branch the symbol of peace, and the tree had a lot of purpose in their people's day to day life. Posideion gifted a salt water spring to the city, but it was deemed useless by the people, and they chose Athena as the patron saint hence the name Athens. This made Posideion and Athena's image very popular in Greece. 
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  The temple allowed for Posideion to still have worshippers in the city, and was built by the people for the god to protect them against invaders.  It was very common in port cities for there to be a temple of Posideion, but the one in Cape Sounion is one of the last remaining mostly intact temples dedicated to Posideion.
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    Author Caroline Creasy

    Writing about historically rich spots has always been a passion of mine. i believe anywhere you travel you should take time to know the people, and their culture.  Knowing their history makes you feel more sympathetic and connected to the city, and when you feel the connection to that country as a guest that what makes you never forget that perfect trip.

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