Temple of Hephaestus – devoted to Hephaestus and Athena Ergane
Greek Temples | May 11, 2010Built hardly two years previous to the Parthenon, the renowned Temple of Hephaestus (as well spelled as Hephaistos) is a marvelously preserved Greek temple that overlooks the Agora of Athens.
Temple of Hephaestus – Myth and Mystery
Hephaestus, who is Greek god of metalworking along with volcanoes, was the barely one of the numerous Olympian gods who was actually flawed, moreover it is believed that he was lame as well as he was required to carry out manual labor. He had worked like a blacksmith s well as was answerable for crafting of the armor through an incurable weakness that was worn by Achilles within The Iliad.
This temple is in addition devoted to Athena Ergane, which is a variety of the patron goddess of the city, who is in charge for pottery as well as various other crafts.
Temple of Hephaestus – What to See
Temple of Hephaestus is been located on top of Kolonos Agoraios hill, which overlooks the Agora, as well as is positioned on a lofty platform that measures almost 104 ft long as well as 45 ft wide. In addition a Doric peripheral temple by means of a few Ionic elements, this temple comprises of a rectangular enclosed space, which is been surrounded by means of a superficial colonnade that is located on each and every side.
This building is been constructed out of the Pentelic marble as well as is decorated by means of sculpture that is made in Parian marble. In addition the ceiling is made of wood, the tiles of the roof are made of soil, as well as there is a single limestone step that is been placed at the base of the podium.
In the interior, the space is been divided into a cella (inner shrine, through an interior colonnade), a pronaos (foretemple), as well as an opisthonaos (rear temple). The eastern end of this enclosed space is open, which allows the increasing sun to light up the altar that is located at the western end of the inner shrine (cella). In addition the gigantic bronze statues of Athena as well as Hephaestus is been flanked by the altar.
Furthermore, the friezes that are been located on the eastern metopes (in front of the Agora) are the premium, in addition it depicts the numerous Labors that were carried out by Hercules. The four metopes placed easternmost edge on the northern and southern sides represent the Labors that were carried out by Theseus. Moreover the frieze above the pronaos illustrates a panorama that is been taken from the renowned Battle of Theseus as well as the Pallantids, by means of the gods looking on, whist the frieze that is composed above the opisthonaos portrays the famous Battle of the Lapiths as well as Centaurs.
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After the battle of Plataea, the Greeks swore never to rebuild their sanctuaries, destroyed by the Persians during their invasion of Greece, but to leave them in ruins, as a perpetual reminder of barbarian ferocity.
The Athenians directed their funds towards rebuilding their economy and strengthening their influence in the Delian League. When Pericles came to power, he envisioned a grand plan for transforming Athens into the centre of Greek power and culture.
The temple of Hephaestus in the Agora was meant to embody the richest evidence of Athenian tradition, conservatively in the Doric order and the full complement of carved metopes that had long been Athens’ pride on its conspicuous Treasury at Delphi.