Temple of Hephaestus

The Temple of Hephaestus, the Thiseion, stands on a small hill on the western edge of the Ancient Agora. Built between 460 and 415 BCE — slightly older than the Parthenon — it is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple anywhere, with all six columns at each end and most of the side columns still standing and its roof partly intact.

The temple was dedicated jointly to Hephaestus (god of metalworking) and Athena Ergane (goddess of crafts), reflecting the surrounding district of bronze foundries and pottery workshops. Christian conversion in the 7th century turned it into the church of Saint George Akamates, which is why it survived in such good condition. Walk up to the platform for a fine view across the Agora to the Acropolis.

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A story
The Temple of Hephaestus is the best-preserved Doric temple in Greece — better preserved than the Parthenon. It owes its survival to its conversion to a Christian church in the 7th century, which kept it roofed and in continuous use for more than a thousand years. The metopes on the eastern front depict the labours of Heracles.