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The '''Temple of Hephaestus''' in central [[Ancient Athens|Athens]], [[Greece]], is the best-preserved ancient [[Greek temple]] in the world, but is far less well-known than its illustrious neighbour, the [[Parthenon]]. The temple is also known as the '''Hephaesteum''' or '''Hephaesteion'''. It is sometimes called the '''Theseion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Θησείο'', ''thisio''), due to a belief current in [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] times that the bones of the legendary Greek hero [[Theseus]] were buried there; in fact the bones alleged to be those of Theseus were buried in the 5th century BC at another site nearer to the [[Acropolis of Athens|Acropolis]]. |
The '''Temple of Hephaestus''' in central [[Ancient Athens|Athens]], [[Greece]], is the best-preserved ancient [[Greek temple]] in the world, but is far less well-known than its illustrious neighbour, the [[Parthenon]]. The temple is also known as the '''Hephaesteum''' or '''Hephaesteion'''. It is sometimes called the '''Theseion''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Θησείο'', ''thisio''), due to a belief current in [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] times that the bones of the legendary Greek hero [[Theseus]] were buried there; in fact the bones alleged to be those of Theseus were buried in the 5th century BC at another site nearer to the [[Acropolis of Athens|Acropolis]]. |
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==IF I WERE AN OSCAR MEYER WEINER== |
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==General information== |
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Oh if I were an oscar Meyer Weiner I'd probably have to just sait on the floor like a big fat idiot. |
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The temple is located about 500 m north-west of the Acropolis and about 1 km due west of the modern centre of Athens, [[Syntagma Square]]. It was built in about [[449 BC]] on what was then the western edge of the city of Athens, in a district which contained many foundries and metalwork shops. It was therefore dedicated to [[Hephaestus]], the god of blacksmiths and metallurgy. It was designed by [[Ictinus]], one of the architects who worked on the Parthenon. It stands on a slight rise and in ancient times commanded a fine view of the [[Ancient Agora of Athens|Agora]]. |
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Built of marble from Mount Pentelikon, in the [[Doric order|Doric]] style, the temple is ''hexastyle'', that is with six columns under the [[pediment]]ed ends, and has thirteen columns on each side (counting the corner columns twice). The temple is ''peripteral'', with columns entirely surrounding the central enclosed [[cella]]. In the [[entablature]] there is the plain frieze that is expected with the sober Doric mode, but above it in the spaces between the [[triglyphs]]— which are like decoratively grooved beam-ends pegged into place— the labours of [[Heracles]] are depicted in [[bas-relief]]. Sculpted into the low-relief [[metope (architecture)|metope]] is the great story of [[Theseus]] and of his quest to kill the [[minotaur]]. |
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[[Image:ac.hephaestus2.jpg|thumb|300px|left|The Temple of Hephaestus, Athens: western face.]] |
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Unlike the Parthenon, the temple has all its columns and pediments intact, and even has most of its original roof. Its friezes and other decorations, however, have inevitably been badly damaged by thieves and looters over the centuries. It owes its survival to its conversion to a Christian Church, the Church of [[St George]], in the 7th century AD. The survival of the exterior came at the cost of the ancient interior, which was removed and replaced by the structures of a Christian church. |
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During the centuries of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule in Greece, the temple was the main [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] church in Athens. When the first king of independent Greece, [[Otto of Greece|King Othon]], entered the city in [[1834]], the service welcoming him to his new capital was held in the church. |
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Today the temple has been preserved as an archaeological site under the supervision of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Greek Interior Ministry. The temple itself has a small fence, but the visitor can get much closer than is possible at the Parthenon or most other antiquities in Greece. The temple is now surrounded by an ornamental garden whereas in Ancient Greek times, surrounding the temple were flower ditches, enhancing the rural aspect of the temenos of the sanctuary otherwise located in the city centre of Athens. The site gets much less tourist traffic than the Acropolis and is a pleasant green spot in the heart of Athens, the area which used to be the blacksmith's agora, linking in with the fact that Hephaestus is the god of blacksmiths. |
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{{commons|Temple of Hephaistos}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 17:56, 17 October 2006
The Temple of Hephaestus in central Athens, Greece, is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world, but is far less well-known than its illustrious neighbour, the Parthenon. The temple is also known as the Hephaesteum or Hephaesteion. It is sometimes called the Theseion (Greek: Θησείο, thisio), due to a belief current in Byzantine times that the bones of the legendary Greek hero Theseus were buried there; in fact the bones alleged to be those of Theseus were buried in the 5th century BC at another site nearer to the Acropolis.
IF I WERE AN OSCAR MEYER WEINER
Oh if I were an oscar Meyer Weiner I'd probably have to just sait on the floor like a big fat idiot.
See also
- Joe Mama
- Michael Jackson
- 1632
- There are ducks in my pants.