Temple of Hephaestus

The best-preserved ancient Greek temple, standing largely intact atop the Agoraios Kolonos hill overlooking the Ancient Agora of Athens. Built between 449 and 415 BC, this Doric peripteral temple features a hexastyle arrangement of 6-by-13 columns in Pentelic marble, with eastern metopes depicting the Labours of Heracles. Dedicated to Hephaestus, god of metalworking, and Athena Ergane, it stood near the metalworking and pottery workshops of ancient Athens. Its conversion to the Church of Saint George Akamates from the 7th century until 1834 ensured its exceptional survival.