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      • Mantinea
      • Megara 
      • Tegea
       

       


     

    Athena's Temples and Sanctuaries 

       Greek: naos, ieron; aduton, agion 
       Latin: templum; sanctuarium 
       Buildings and sacred places dedicated to religious ceremonies or worship of the Goddess Athena. 
       
    Bibliography: 

    Links: 

    • Perseus Encyclopedia: Athena

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    Mantinea 

     At Mantinea, near Tripolis, there was a Sanctuary and an image of Athena Alea. 
     Pausanias reports:  They also worship Athena Alea, of whom they have a sanctuary and an image. (Paus. 8.9.6) 
     
    Views: 
  • Aerial view of agora, temples, theater, from N

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    Links: 
    • Perseus Project: Mantinea site
     

    Megara 

     At Megara, near Eleusis, there was three Temples of Athena: one on the top of the citadel, the other of Athena Victory and the third of Athena Aeantis (Ajacian). 
     Pausanias reports: On the top of the citadel is built a temple of Athena, with an image gilt except the hands and feet; these and the face are of ivory. There is another sanctuary built here, of Athena Victory, and yet a third of Athena Aeantis (Ajacian). About the last the Megarian guides have omitted to record anything, but I will write what I take to be the facts. Telamon the son of Aeacus married Periboea the daughter of Alcathous; so my opinion is that Ajax, who succeeded to the throne of Alcathous, made the statue of Athena. (Paus. 1.42.4) 
     

      

    Tegea 

     The other name of Tegea is Alea after the name of it's founder Aleus. Tegea was one of the oldest and most powerful cities of Arcadia and had two Sanctuaries, those of Ephesian Artemis and Athena Alea and a Temple of Dionysus. 
     Pausanias reports: After Stymphalus comes Alea, which too belongs to the Argive federation, and its citizens point to Aleus, the son of Apheidas, as their founder. The sanctuaries of the Gods here are those of Ephesian Artemis and Athena Alea, and there is a Temple of Dionysus with an image. (Paus. 8.23.1) 
     There was also at Tegea a Sanctuary of Athena Poliatis (Keeper of the City). 
     Pausanias reports:  There is at Tegea another sanctuary of Athena, namely of Athena Poliatis (Keeper of the City) into which a priest enters once in each year. This sanctuary they name Eryma (Defence) saying that Cepheus, the son of Aleus, received from Athena a boon, that Tegea should never be captured while time shall endure, adding that the goddess cut off some of the hair of Medusa and gave it to him as a guard to the city. (Paus. 8.47.5) 
     
    Links: 
    • Temples Gallery: The Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea
    • Perseus Project: Tegea site
     
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     Copyright ©1998-1999 Roy George