Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, Greece

Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Bassae, Greece
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_apollon_vasses2_OLC.jpg
Author: Olecorre


Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae is an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the god of healting and the sun. Bassae is an archaeological site in Greece. Its name means "little vale in the rocks."

The Temple of Apollo Epicurius dates from between the mid- to the late-5th century BC. It is imbued with many fascinating features, making it a much-studied ancient site among archaeologists. The temple is said to have been designed by Iktinos, the Greek architect who also did the Temple of Hephaestus and the Parthenon. The ancient scribe Pausanias praised the temple as being above all other Greek temples apart from the Temple of Athena, for the high level of beauty and harmony of its design.

The Temple of Apollo Epicurius sits on an elevation of 1,131 meter, on the slopes of Kotylion Mountain. It is aligned north-south, which breaks away from the usual form of Greek temples that are aligned east-west.

Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 10th session of the World Heritage Committee at Headquarters in Paris, France, on 24-28 November, 1986.

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 37 26 5.928 E 21 53 48.984 in the prefectures of Messenia, Arcadia and Ilia, in Western Peloponnese, Greece
Inscription Year: 1986
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: I, II, III

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