After years of living in Athens I paid my first and overdue visit to the ancient Agora. For the past few weeks I felt drawn to the Temple of Hephaestus. The temple is located just below the Acropolis in the ancient Agora (market place). Hephaestus is the God of blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, fire and volcanoes. The temple is the best preserved ancient temple in all of Greece. Upon visiting the temple I was awe-struck by its beauty and energy. Even though I don’t work with metals I do get crafty, I am good with my hands. What a coincidence that I would feel a pull to visit this place!
The temple with the Agora below
View of the temple from the front with its Doric columns
The west side of the temple facing Thiseio
Not a bad-looking temple for a God who was considered the ugliest God of all, and who was crippled by Zeus!I walked for hours that day and the next I could barely walk. I felt crippled just like Hephaestus!
