THE TEMPLE OF HEPHAESTUS

The Temple of Hephaestus – known as the Thision or Hephaisteion – began to be built in 449 B.C. by Ictinus. It was one of the first structures in the reconstruction program of Pericles and, today, is the best preserved monument in the Agora and the best saved temple in Athens.

It is a Doric order peripteral temple with a pronaos and a opisthodomos on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. It has 34 pillars and one metope in the east that represents 9 of the 12 Labours of Hercules.

It was dedicated to the worship of Hephaestus and Athena, of which there were bronze statues of inside. From 1300 A.D. it functioned as the church Agios Georgios (St. George), but with the arrival of King Otto to Greece in 1834, the last Christian liturgy took place.

THE ADDRESS

Ancient Agora (Archaeological Area)
Adrianou Street
10555 Athens (Greece)
Tel. +30 210 - 3214172

HOW TO GET THERE

BY ATHENS METRO: 1 (Green Line), Station "Thissio"

BY BUS: 025, 026, 027, 038, 227, 500

BY FOOT: Going up from Monastiraki Square, take Adrianou Street for a 5 minute walk to the Ancient Agora. From the Thissio Metro Station, it will only take a couple of minutes on Adrianou Street to reach the Agora.

Nightlife

BLACK DUCK MULTIPLARTE
This multi-space located in the heart of Athens has provided the stage for numerous mature Greek acts over the years.... more
POP
Small bar with the best indie sounds in the city, clean drinks and fanatic regulars.... more
USE BAR
Small bar playing mainly black music. Absolute hip hangout, open from nine in the morning for coffee and cold sandwiches,... more

Shopping

ACROPOLIS MUSEUM SHOP
The ground level shop has a broad selection of postcards, paper goods and the museum’s children’s collection. The second floor... more
OLYMPICO
This jewelry store is known for offering a great selection of contemporary pieces made from precious metals, as well as... more
COMPENDIUM BOOKSHOP
The shop sells anything from new and used, fiction and nonfiction books in English, mainly to ex-patriots – who seem... more