In Greece, the Temple of Poseidon surprised archaeologists

Excavations in the Peloponnese have shown: The temple of Poseidon at Kleidi Samikon was much larger and more complex than previously thought.

Recent excavations at Kleidi Samikon in the Peloponnese showed that the temple Poseidondiscovered here in 2022, was a much larger and more complex structure than previously thought.

Research has revealed that the temple Poseidon was a real architectural complex of its time. Its length reached 28 meters and its width was almost 9.5 meters.

Inside the temple, archaeologists discovered two large rooms. Each of them had two central columns and a vestibule. This layout was unusual for ancient Greek temples, and now scientists are trying to understand what exactly this space was used for.

Double temple or meeting place

One version is that it was the so-called “double temple”where two deities were worshiped at once. Another hypothesis suggests that one of the rooms could have served as a meeting place for amphictyony – a union of cities or communities that jointly administered the sanctuary.

Temple Poseidon was built in the 6th century BC and existed for several centuries. Around 300 BC the structure was rebuilt. Archaeologists discovered traces of this reconstruction: a dismantled roof and a floor reinforced with a new layer, which was probably done for better waterproofing.

Valuable finds inside the temple

During the excavations, a number of valuable artifacts were found. Among them is a large marble pool, which, according to researchers, was used for ritual ablutions.

In addition, on one of the walls of the temple was discovered bronze plaque with inscription. Scientists expect that after restoration they will be able to decipher it. This could provide new information not only about the building itself, but also about the people who visited the sanctuary.

Nakhodka in Kleydi-Samikone is important not only as another archaeological discovery. It shows that ancient Greek sanctuaries could be more complex than is commonly thought, and served not only a religious, but also a social function.

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