SCIENCE & TECH: Temple of Poseidon Fully Uncovered, Proves Much Larger than Expected

Archaeologists have finally uncovered the full extent of the Temple of Poseidon at Samikon in the Western Peloponnese, Greece. The temple complex is significantly larger than expected, measuring approximately 28 meters long (91.8 ft) and nearly 9.5 meters (31.1 ft) wide, adding new depth to a find first made two years ago. Two large interior rooms dating back to the 6th century BC, along with a bronze plaque that likely adorned the temple walls, are the two more significant discoveries from this round of excavations.

The recent excavations were part of a five-year project led by the Austrian Archaeological Institute and supported by the Department of Antiquities of Elis. This is a site which researchers have searched for over a century, following hints provided by ancient Greek geographers like Strabo, reports a press release by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OAW). In 2021, the first breakthrough had been made, when Austrian and Greek researchers, together with geophysicists and geoarchaeologists, uncovered the foundation walls.

Archair Double-Chamber Room, a Bronze Plaque of Significance

The plaque remains in a fragile state, currently encased in the surrounding earth for protection. Early X-ray imaging has revealed the presence of a large inscription on one side of the bronze plate, which could perhaps allude to the temple’s history and the religious practices associated with it.

Birgitta Eder, the head of the Austrian Archaeological Institute’s branch in Athens, expressed optimism about this discovery.

“We are looking at an Archaic temple consisting of two main rooms. A central row of two columns, which we found in the first hall, and which supported the large roof covered with tiles, belongs to this phase. We may assume that there were also such columns in the second room. In any case, the ground plan of the temple is unusual. So far, we know of no comparable buildings,” she explained.

The Temple of Poseidon at Samikon is a prime example of an archaic double-chamber temple design, uncommon in Greek temple architecture. It features two substantial rooms, each of which is organized around a series of central pillars and forecourts framed by columns, adding to the architectural grandeur.

The interiors were tiled, likely covering the original floor level used during the temple’s active period, reports The Jerusalem Post. Around 300 BC, the roof was deliberately dismantled and stored within the structure itself, marking the apparent abandonment of the temple.

Within the temple’s second room, archaeologists found fragments of a marble vessel known as a Perirrhanterion, a ritual basin used in cleansing ceremonies. Measuring approximately one meter (3.28 ft) in diameter, the vessel’s function as a ritual object was reaffirmed through its restoration, which incorporated iron clamps that appear to be ancient repairs.

Clearly, the vessel was significant and used frequently even in antiquity. Combined with fragments unearthed in  2022, the archaeologists were able to reconstruct the basin almost entirely.

This one meter (3.28 ft) diameter relic is a ritual purification vessel, crafted in the style of a copper basin. (Ministry of Culture ΥΠΠΟ)

Fortifying and Documentation: Ancient and Modern Modes of Preservation

A massive double-walled structure just north of the temple was also found. It likely functioned as a fortification enclosing the sacred district of Poseidon, while also acting as a protective barrier against the nearby coastal lagoons and swamps. This northern enclosure, first documented by early 20th-century archaeologist Wilhelm Dorpfeld, appears to have served as a boundary that protected the temple from periodic flooding and from the sea, which was several kilometers closer to the temple at the time is was built, reports The Greek City Times.

Geographical descriptions by Strabo, the ancient Greek geographer, had suggested the presence of a sanctuary to Poseidon near the coast, under the acropolis of Samikon, nestled within a grove of wild olive trees, containing lagoons, coastal marshes, and swamps. His writings, combined with recent technological advances in geophysical survey methods, guided the team’s 2021 investigations, which took place near the hills of Kleidi.

The Temple of Poseidon served as a central religious and cultural site for the nearby cities of Triphylia, playing a vital role in uniting those communities. Birgitta Eder emphasized the temple’s long-standing importance, indicating that it was integral to the regional league of Triphylian cities, both as a religious and a strategic center.

The sanctuary’s establishment in the Mycenaean period (1600-1100 BC) hints at its continuous importance across various historical epochs, from Mycenaean to classical Greek periods.

New Documentary to Detail Discoveries at Kleidi Site

Filming for a new historical documentary titled Thermopylae of the Peloponnese began in September at the “Kleidi” site in Kato Samiko. This documentary is being produced as part of a five-year research project led by the Austrian Archaeological Institute in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities of Elis.

The series will consist of seven episodes, each designed to provide scientific, cultural, and educational perspectives on the archaeological discoveries and the historical significance of the region. Once completed, Thermopylae of the Peloponnese will be available for public viewing on the website of the Gerda Henkel Foundation, offering audiences around the world a closer look at the history and heritage of the Peloponnese and the ongoing work of the archaeological team.

Top image: Ancient stone statue of mighty god of the sea and oceans Neptune (Poseidon) with trident.     Source:zwiebackesser/Adobe Stock                                           

By Sahir Pandey