Picture the Temple of Artemis Agrotera. Imagine its grandeur. This small Ionic temple dedicated to Artemis Agrotera stood proudly near the Ilissus River. It was one of several similar temples around Athens. Built around 440 BC it honored the goddess of the hunt. The Temple of Artemis Agrotera was more than just stone and marble. It held a significant place in Athenian life.
Pausanias describes the temple’s location. He mentions Artemis hunting there when she first arrived from Delos. This explains the bow carried by her statue. The temple was once a vibrant place of worship. Athenians held a yearly sacrifice here. This was in honor of Artemis Agrotera’s role in their victory at Marathon. They offered five hundred goats. This was a substitute for the sixty-four hundred Persians slain in that battle.
The Temple of Artemis Agrotera wasn’t just a religious site. Its architecture was remarkable. It was amphiprostyle tetrastyle. This meant four columns graced both front and back porticos. There were no columns along the sides. This is unique. It was the first attested example of this design. The temple’s unusual design influenced later structures. The Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis shows this influence. Both temples share similarities in plan and scale. Callicrates designed both. He also worked on the Parthenon.
Unfortunately the Temple of Artemis Agrotera met a tragic end. The Ottoman Turks destroyed it in the 18th century. They used its stones for a fortification. Now only foundations and fragments remain. These fragments however offer valuable insights into the temple’s construction and artistry. We see its beauty in Stuart’s drawings. They record its unique style. The drawings also show meticulous measurements of the Ionic capitals’ volutes. These drawings are a testament to the lost splendor of the Temple of Artemis Agrotera. Today’s ruins remind us of the temple’s importance and its lasting legacy. It’s a reminder of Athens’ rich past and the goddess it revered.