Vagionia
A quiet pebble bay on the north coast, a short drive down from the sanctuary.
Poros · Kalavria & the north · Ιερό του Ποσειδώνα
The Sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalavria
The scattered stones of an ancient sanctuary in the pines, where Demosthenes died
Kalavria & the north · Poros
About Temple of Poseidon
On a saddle of the hills in the middle of Kalavria, among the pines, lie the foundations of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, once one of the most important in the Saronic Gulf. In the Archaic period it was the meeting place of the Kalaurian League, an alliance of seven cities around the gulf, Athens among them, and in 322 BC the orator Demosthenes, fleeing the Macedonians, took poison here rather than be captured. Little stands above knee height, but the setting is lovely: pine woods, stone walls, the sea on both sides and the view across the Saronic Gulf to Aegina. Swedish archaeologists have excavated the site since the 1890s.
Within an easy drive
Around Temple of Poseidon
Good to know
Before you go to Temple of Poseidon
Getting there
About 6 km from town on the road through the pines from the monastery or from Kanali, by car, scooter or bike. There is no bus, and little shade on the site.
When to go
Early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the pines are cool. In spring the ruins are full of wild flowers.
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