See the stunning Temple of Poseidon with yacht charter in Greece

Yacht charter in Greece allows you to see some truly breathtaking archaeological sites, with plentiful ruins and temples to discover. Few can be as well known as the famous Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, south of Athens on the Attica peninsula.

The Greeks took their temples very seriously and Poseidon, as god of the sea, was the focus of a great number. The brother of Zeus and Hades, Poseidon was one of the 12 major deities. In addition to having dominion over the seas, he was also the god of earthquakes, storms and horses. With so much of local life dependent on oceanic travel, it is no surprise that he was one god the Greeks were keen to show their respect for.

Sounion has long been a sacred spot, not least due to its location right at the very edge of the mainland before sailors would reach open water; indeed, it is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey as the resting place of one of Menelaus’s crew. A sanctuary to Athena was also constructed here at the same time as Poseidon’s temple, around 444BC.

Of the original 34 fluted Doric columns, 16 still remain today. A marble Ionic frieze adorns the eastern side and although much of the detail has eroded, heroic scenes from Greek mythology can still be made out.

In addition to the impressive ruins, the rugged coastal location of this temple make it one of the most memorable ancient sites. Although the temple is lovely at any time, the views at sunset are particularly special.