Sunset at Cape Sounion – where legends meet today

Nestled on the cliffs of Cape Sounion, the temple of Poseidon stands as a testament to ancient beauty. every evening, it offers an awe-inspiring display that will stay with you forever.

“Place me on Sunium’s marble steep—
Where nothing, save the waves and I,
May hear our mutual murmurs sweep:
There, swan-like, let me sing and die;
A land of slaves shall ne’er be mine—
Dash down yon cup of Samian wine!”

By Sunium Lord Byron meant the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. I am not surprised that this building inspired him to write a poem. When the ancient temple appeared on the horizon, gracefully standing on the top of the rocky hill, an awful lot of cliches filled my mind… Breathtaking, magnificent, just amazing. It made me feel scared and fascinated at the same time. No Greek God could have asked for a better spot to have a temple built in their honour: surrounded by steep, tremendous rocks, visible from a long distance both from the sea and the mainland, offering a spectacular view of the Saronic Gulf.

Poseidon, the God of the Sea

In Ancient Greece, it was often easier and quicker to travel by sea rather than on the mainland; therefore, the son of Rhea and the Titan Cronus, Poseidon, was one of the most important Olympian gods. The mighty God of the Sea, who looked after the seafarers and was responsible for earthquakes and natural disasters, was worshipped all around the Greek world.

The temple

The temple was built in the 5th century BC, replacing the previously present archaic shrine that was destroyed by the Persians during Xerxes’s first invasion. Its architecture is similar to the Athenian Temple of Hephaestus, which stands in the Ancient Agora. The temple is built on the highest point of the hill. Out of the 34 original Doric marble columns, 15 are still standing. Lord Byron’s name can be spotted on one of the columns, although it is still not clear whether he, or one of his admirers carved it there. It is certain that he did visit this sacred place when he lived in Greece.

Visiting Sounion

Most people visit Sounion at dusk, as the sunset here rivals the ones in Santorini. I admire the Greek practicality: the archaeological site is open till sunset, so the closing time varies daily but they do not need to change the signs.
I love sunsets, often arranging my holidays around sunset-watching spots. Watching the blankets of blues, reds and oranges as the sun descends into the sea is a spellbinding experience: I feel calm, whole, and grateful. My feelings are supported by scientific research, which suggests that sunsets have many positive psychological effects on us because they enhance a feeling of long-lasting satisfaction. It also has physical benefits, as it is proven that watching sunsets relieves stress.

Interesting facts about Poseidon
• He loved horses and horse races. Poseidon had his own chariot, pulled by mythological beasts and followed by dolphins, fish and sea creatures
• The mythological flying horse, Pegasus, was Poseidon’s offspring
• Poseidon was particularly fertile: he fathered more than 100 children with both goddesses and mortal women.
• Unfortunately, some of his children were quite vicious, like the seamonster Charybdis, the one-eyed giant, Polyphemus, and the villain Procrustes.
• The sea goddess, Amphitrite, was his wife with whom he fathered the first merman, Triton.
• Although he was one of the most powerful gods on Olympus, he preferred to live in the sea. He owned a golden palace underwater, decorated with the most beautiful jewels of the world.
• According to Hippocrates’ texts, Poseidon was responsible for several mental disturbances, such as mental fears and certain types of epilepsy.

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