Temple of Ares (Athens Agora) 2 Agora of Athens

Temple of Ares, traces of foundations of temple of Ares, moved from Pallene, Athenian Agora
Hits: 2
Works: 1
Latitude: 37.975546
Longitude: 23.722745
Confidence: High

Place ID: 380237SAre
Time period: CR
Region: Attica
Country: Greece
Department: Athens C
Mod: Agora of Athens

- DARE

Modern Description: "Just north of the Odeion lie the ruins of a building identified by Pausanias as a temple of Ares (Figs. 56, 57). The foundations are of Early Roman construction and date, but the marble pieces of the superstructure, now assembled at the western end of the temple platform, are of the 5th century B.C. They can be restored as a Doric peripteral temple, close in plan, date, and size to the Hephaisteion [5]. Roman masons’ marks carved on the blocks indicate that the temple originally stood elsewhere, was carefully taken apart with all the pieces labelled, and then reerected on the new foundations built for it in the Agora. This is the best example of a phenomenon known as ""wandering temples,"" of which there are several similar examples in the Agora, dating to the early years of the Roman empire. Outstanding examples of Classical architecture were brought in from the outlying villages (demes) of Attica, largely deserted at this period, and reused in downtown Athens, presumably for the worship of deified Roman emperors; it was a relatively cheap and effective way to honor the new order. The probable origin of the Ares temple architecture is the sanctuary of Athena Pallenis (at modern Stavro), where large foundations for a temple have been found but with no trace of any superstructure.
[Judith Binder: Ares: sanctuary with a temple, south of the Altar of the Twelve Gods: Paus. 1.8.4. Temple of Ares, 430s B.C., originally dedicated to Athena Pallenis at Pallene, moved to the Agora in the early 1st c. A.C. Agora_A 64+; W. B. Dinsmoor, “The Temple of Ares at Athens,” Hesperia 9 (1940) 1-52, figs. 1-18; Μ. H. McAllister, “The Temple of Ares at Athens,” Hesperia 28 (1959) 1-64, figs. 1-24, pls. A, 1-17; original site [mistakenly] located at Acharnai, Travlos, J. 1971, 104 with figs. 34 no. 67, 138-145; Agora_Guide 1990, 114-115, 276 no. 114, figs. 7, 67; probably repaired after 267 A.D., Agora_XXIV, 97 note 9, 109; M. Platonos-Yota, “The Sanctuary of Athena Pallenis,” Archaiologia 65 (Oct.-Dec. 1997) 92-97 with photos and drawings; M. Korres, “Από τον Σταυρό στην Αγορά,” Horos 10-12 (1992-1998) 83-104, pls. 15-20; the temple of Ares linked to the building of the temple of Mars Ultor in Rome, F. E. Romer, “A Numismatic Date for the Departure of C. Caesar?,” ΤΑΡΑ 108 (1978) 201-202 note 35]
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Ares
Wikidata ID: Q2405583
Trismegistos Geo: 364"

Info: Agora Excavations

Agora Excavation website agathe.gr


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