Temple of Athena and Zeus Sotiros in Figalia

The temple of Athena and Zeus is the most remarkable excavated monument of ancient Figaleia that extends to the place of today’s homonymous community. According to sources from the Ministry of Culture, the temple of Athena and Zeus is located on the low hill “Kurdoumbouli” rising at the southwestern edge of the ancient town’s Market. It is a rectangular temple with pre-temple and cella, and A-D orientation. Its life spans from the 4th century. B.C. until the early Roman era, and there must have been an archaic phase. The temple is not mentioned by Pausanias, and the identification of the worshiped deities was based on inscription statues of statues.

Excavation research has shown that life on this hill had begun since the prehistoric era. The sanctuary should have existed since the Archaic period, as seen by architectural remains and members, as well as by votive offerings. In the Byzantine era or Frankish era, the temple seems to have been converted into a home. The temple of Athena and Zeus is located in the southern part of ancient Pholegia and it was a religious and political center of ancient Pholegia. From the inscriptions that appear, it seems that the temple was of political significance and that its range stretched beyond the limits of Arcadia. It presents several similarities in the construction and interior layout of the sites with the temple of Asclepius in the nearby Alifeira.