Temple of Hephaestus, Athens

The Temple of Hephaestus is the largely intact marble temple before you, dedicated to the god associated with fire, metalworking, and skilled craft. Its Doric columns surround the sanctuary, and the building rests on Agoraios Kolonos hill at the north-west edge of the Athenian Agora. Construction began in 449 BC, and the roof and sacred images were completed during the Peace of Nicias, from 421 to 415 BC.

The temple measures about 14 metres from north to south and about 32 metres from east to west; its short sides carry six columns, while its long sides carry thirteen. Look along the sculpted bands beneath the pediments: although the structure is Doric, these are continuous Ionic friezes. The eastern metopes show the Labours of Heracles, while scenes connected with Theseus appear on the long sides.

That imagery once led people to call this the Theseion, because they mistakenly thought the hero’s remains were here. From the 7th century until 1834, the temple served as the Orthodox church of Saint George Akamates. That long sequence of uses helped preserve the ancient structure you see today.