Elusive Temple Of Poseidon May Have Been Unearthed In Greece

In a stunning discovery, archaeologists in Greece may have uncovered what is believed to be the site of the elusive temple of Poseidon. The structure’s remains were first identified in 2021, but only recently were the pieces put together that it could be more than just an ancient site. 

According to Dr Birgitta Eder from the Austrian Archaeological Institute, the location of the sacred site, near Samikon, Greece, corresponds with details written by famed Greek historian Strabo over 2,000 years ago. 

The temple, which may have been dedicated to Poseidon, who presided over the oceans and storms, seems to have been purposefully constructed near the Peloponnesian coast, a region known to be hit by several tsunamis during the prehistoric and historic eras. 

This would line up with the Greek God’s cult title of ‘Earthshaker’, as he was considered by believers to rule over earthquakes and tsunamis. 

Remains from the site are currently being researched by Eder’s team, together with scientists from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Kiel University, and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Elis. 

An extensive archaeological, geoarchaeological, and geophysical analysis of the structure and what’s left of the supposed temple will be conducted over the next several years, as researchers look into the temple’s specific relationship with its coastal landscape. 

[via ARTnews and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, images via Dr Birgitta Eder / Athens Branch of the Austrian Archaeological Institute]