The Temple of Poseidon is approximately 70 km from Athens, in the southern tip of Attica Sounion. Imposing and impressive, it stands at Cape Sounion.

The temple was built in the 5th century BC and it is of Doric order. Initially it had 31 m length, 13,5 m width and a total of 38 columns. Today a quite large part of the church is preserved, while the rest has collapsed. The church was surrounded by a fortified wall that protected an area of ​​about 35 acres, in which ruins of an ancient settlement have been found. The excavation findings include the "Kouros of Sounion ", a male statue that can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum. In a low hill about 500 meters from the Temple of Poseidon, you will see the ruins of a small temple of Athena.

According to mythology, Sounion is known for another important reason. Around 1450 BC, Athens paid taxes to Crete that ruled, at the time, the wider region with its fleet. The tax did not only include money, but also 14 young boys and girls from Athens who were sent to Crete as a sacrifice to the mythical Minotaur. Theseus, the son of the then king of Athens, Aegeus, decided to go himself to Crete and kill the Minotaur. He had told his father that if he succeeded, his ship would return to Athens with white sails, and if he was killed with black. Theseus managed to kill the Minotaur, yet he forgot to change the sails. So, his father that was waiting at Sounion for the return of his son, saw the black sails, thought that Theseus is dead and full of grief fell overboard and drowned. Since this tragic event, the sea is called the Aegean Sea.

Visitors and Athenians choose Sounion to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in Attica.