Temple of Apollo at Naxos

The Temple of Apollo at Naxos was an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the god Apollo, located on the island of Naxos in the Cyclades. It was built during the Archaic period, around the 6th century BC, and was one of the largest temples in the Greek world.

The temple was constructed using local Naxian marble, and its design was influenced by the temples of Ionia in Asia Minor. It had a rectangular floor plan with an elongated pronaos (front porch) and a deep naos (inner chamber) that housed the cult statue of Apollo. The temple also had a secondary chamber, or adyton, which was considered sacred and was only accessible to the priests.

The exterior of the temple was adorned with elaborate decorations, including sculptural friezes and metopes depicting scenes from Greek mythology. The eastern pediment of the temple featured a scene of Apollo battling the giants, while the western pediment depicted the birth of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis.

The Temple of Apollo at Naxos was an important religious center in the ancient world and attracted many pilgrims and worshippers. It was destroyed during the Persian invasion of Greece in the 5th century BC and subsequently rebuilt. However, it fell into decline and was eventually abandoned in the 6th century AD.

Today, only a few fragments of the temple remain, including parts of the frieze and metopes, which are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Naxos. The site of the temple can still be visited, and its ruins provide a fascinating glimpse into the ancient world and the importance of religious ritual in Greek society.