By : John Michopoulos

The temple of Apollo Epicurious is located in the Bassae of Figaleia at an altitude of 1130 meters . The area called Vasses which means small plains. It is 14 km from Andritsaina in Ilia in the Peloponnese of Greece . In this area there was the ancient city of Figaleia .Today the remains of this ancient city are preserved . The ancient Figalians built the temple to thank the god Apollo who heled them, that is, an assistant to overcome the plaque that had occured in the city .

It should be noted that the excavations showed that in the same place there was a small temple dedicated to Vassita Apollo,with an artless wooden xoano of the god inside . This is what the Figalians resorted to and worshipped to save them from the plaque epidemic that had occured in the city . It seems that this move to a sunny and healthy enviroment resulted in them being cured of the plaque .

After this event, they decided to built a magnificent temple in honnor of the god .The new temple is the work of Iktinos, the architect of the Parthenon in Athens . In the new temple coexist all three ancient architectual styles . That is, the Doric, the Corinthian as well as the Ionic . The temple has a large size, ( 39,87 X 16,13 ) supported by 6 columns one one side and 15 on the other ( insted of 13 as was usal until then ). Despite its large dimensions, the temple takes advantage of the shadows of the area and does not show, from afar its huge size . The ancient traveler Pausanias describes the temple as one of the most beautiful in the Peloponnese . The temple was destroyed in the period of the 4th to 5th century after Christ, during the period of persecution of all pagans, as well as great earthquake that took place in the area . Over time, the temple was covered with earth and its discovery is due, according to tradition , to the observation of a shepherd of the area . During the Turkish occupation in 1812, the temple was explored by the English, Xaller and Hallerstein, who specialized in stealing ancient monuments . Among other things, the 23 marble slabs of the frieze of the temple were removed,which eventually ended up, through auctions, in the British Museum . These plates depict the battle of the young Athenians with the Amazons, as well as the centauromachy . That is, the battle between the Lapithes and the Centaurs .Copies of these marble slabs , are now in the Historical Library of Andritsaina, after the donation by the British Museum . Excavations and thefts continued in the following years . In 1836 , after the establishment of the new Greek state, a published excavation was carried out by Russian archaeologists. Some of the objects found are in the Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow,Russia . The excavations continued in the following years, by Greek archaeologistits . In 1972, the American archaeologist Cooper, drilling holes in the foundations of the temple,discovered that it had beenfounded on successive layers of gravel .This fueled theories, that the temple had the ability to rotate very slightly, 50,2 seconds of degree, so that it could align with the equinoxes and always see the triple sun Sirius . The temple is part of the great history of the area . Starting from Mount Lyceum, where remains of the ancient stadium that existed thre are preserned, continues to Ancient Alifeira ( 11 km from Andritsaina ), where remains of the temple of Athena are preserved, as well as vaulted tombs. From hear, through today’s village, Dafnoula, where remains of Roman baths where discovered ( at the location Mavrorema), one ends up in Ancient Olympia .

Bibliography :

Pausanias : Ancient traveler of th 2nd century after Christ

Wikipedia .

Frederick Cooper ( 1936 – 2011) : American archaeologist author of the four- volume work : The Temple of Bassitas Apollo .

Nikos Kazantzkis : Greek traveler , writer,Philosopher .

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Ο ναός του Επικούριου Απόλλωνα στις Βάσσες στην Πελοπόννησο .

Ο ναός βρίσκεται σε υψόμετρο 1130 μέτρων σε μια περιοχή που το όνομά της σημαίνει ” μικρές κοιλάδες “. Η άποψη του Αμερικανού αρχαιολόγου Cooper, ο οποίος διεξήγαγε εκτεταμένη ανασκαφή στον ναό , είναι ότι Βάσσες σημαίνει ¨βραχώδης ρεματιά “.Το έργο του Cooper το οποίο αποτελείται από τέσσερις τόμους, αναφέρεται στον Βασσίτα Απόλλωνα .Ο ναός, απέχει 14 χιλιόμετρα από την Ανδρίτσαινα της Ηλείας στην Πελοπόννησο . Στην περιοχή υπήρχε η αρχαία πόλη της Φιγαλείας . Σήμερα σώζονται ερείπια της αρχαίας πόλης . Οι αρχαίοι Φιγαλείς έχτισαν τον ναό ,για να ευχαριστήσουν τον θεό Απόλλωνα ( θεό της ίασης και του ήλιου ) που τους βοήθησε ( είρθε επίκουρος, δηλ. βοηθός ) να ξεπεράσουν τον λοιμό, που είχε ενσκήψει στην περιοχή . Να σημειωθεί ότι οι ανασκαφές έδειξαν , ότι στην ίδια θέση , προϋπήρχε μικρός ναός, με άτεχνο ξόανο του θεού Βασσίτα Απόλλωνα, στο εσωτερικό του . Σ’ αυτό, το ξόανο, κατέφυγαν οι Φιγαλείς και προσκύνησαν για να τους σώσει, από την επιδημία πανώλης που υπήρχε στην πόλη τους . Φαίνεται ότι η μετακίνηση σε ένα ποιό υγιεινό και ηλιόλουστο περιβάλλον, είχε ως αποτέλεσμα, να θεραπευτούν από την αρρώστια . Μετά από αυτό το γεγονός, αποφάσισαν , να χτίσουν , έναν μεγαλοπρεπή ναό . Ο ναός πιστεύεται ότι είναι έργο του Ικτίνου, του αρχιτέκτονα του Παρθενώνα της Αθήνας . Στον ναό συνυπάρχουν και οι τρεις αρχιτεκτονικοί ρυθμοί της αρχαιότητας . Δηλαδή, ο Δωρικός, ο Κορινθιακός καθώς επίσης και ο Ιωνικός ρυθμός . Ο ναός έχει μεγάλο μέγεθος ( 38,87 Χ 16,13 μέτρα ) στηριζόμενος σε 6 κίονες από την μία πλευρά και 15 στην άλλη ( αντί για 13 κίονες όπως συνηθίζονταν μέχρι τότε ) . Παρά τις μεγάλες διαστάσεις του, ο ναός, εκμεταλλεύεται τις φωτοσκιάσεις της περιοχής και δεν δείχνει από μακριά , το τεράστιο μέγεθός του . Ο αρχαίος περιηγητής Παυσανίας, περιγράφει τον ναό , σαν έναν από τους ωραιότερους της Πελοποννήσου . Ο ταξιδευτής, ιστορικός, συγγραφέας και φιλόσοφος, Καζαντζάκης ,αναφέρει , ότι ο ναός είναι ένας βράχος ο οποίος έχει χτισθεί πάνω σε έναν άλλο βράχο. Αλλά από αυτόν τον βράχο, πέρασε το πνεύμα . Ο ναός καταστράφηκε την περίοδο του 4ου με 5ου αιώνα μχ. , κατά την περίοδο του διωγμού όλων των ειδωλολατρών, καθώς και ενός μεγάλου σεισμού που έγινε στην περιοχή . Με την πάροδο του χρόνου, ο ναός σκεπάστηκε από χώματα και η ανακάλυψή του οφείλεται ( σύμφωνα με την παράδοση ), στην παρατηρητικότητα ενός βοσκού της περιοχής . Κατά την διάρκεια της τουρκοκρατίας το 1812, ο ναός ερευνήθηκε από τους Άγγλους, Χάλλερ και Χαλλερστάιν , οι οποίοι ειδικεύονταν στις κλοπές αρχαίων μνημείων . Να σημειωθεί ότι, οι ίδιοι είχαν κλέψει τα αρχαία της Αφαίας Αθηνάς , στην Αίγινα, τα οποία σήμερα βρίσκονται στο μουσείο του Βερολίνου, στην Γερμανία .Αφαιρέθηκαν,εκτός των άλλων , και οι 23 μαρμάρινες πλάκες της ζωοφόρου του ναού και κατέληξαν, μέσω δημοπρασιών , στο βρετανικό μουσείο του Λονδίνου . Σ’αυτές τις μαρμάρινες πλάκες, απεικονίζονται στιγμές από την μάχη των νεαρών Αθηναίων με τις αμαζόνες, καθώς επίσης και η κενταυρομαχία,δηλαδή η μάχη των Λαπιθών με τους Κενταύρους . Η ζωοφόρος του ναού, σε αντίθεση με ότι μέχρι τώρα συνηθιζόταν, κοσμούσε το εσωτερικό του σηκού . Αντίγραφα των μαρμάρινων αυτών πλακών, βρίσκονται σήμερα στην Ιστορική Βιβλιοθήκη Ανδρίτσαινας, μετά από δωρεά του Βρετανικού μουσείου . Ο ναός ήταν στο μεγαλύτερό του μέρος χωρίς σκεπή, για να μπορεί να εκμεταλλεύεται το φως του ήλιου . Στο εσωτερικό του , υπήρχε χάλκινο άγαλμα του θεού . Το άγαλμα αυτό, μετέφερε ο στρατηγός Επαμεινώνδας στην Μεγαλόπολη ( αρχαία Αρκαδική πόλη ). Η ιδιομορφία του προσανατολισμού του ναού ( από τον βορά προς τον νότο ), δεν οφείλεται στην έλλειψη χώρου όπως πιστεύεται, αλλά έχει να κάνει , κυρίως με τις λατρευτικές παραδόσεις των Αρκάδων . Οι ανασκαφές ( και οι κλοπές ) συνεχίσθηκαν κατά καιρούς . Το 1836 ( μετά την ίδρυση του νέου Ελληνικού κράτους ), έγινε από Ρώσους αρχαιολόγους, δημοσιευμένη ανασκαφή . Μερικά από τα αντικείμενα που βρέθηκαν στην ανασκαφή, βρίσκονται σήμερα , στο μουσείο καλών τεχνών, Πούσκιν στην Μόσχα της Ρωσίας . Οι ανασκαφές , συνεχίσθηκαν τα επόμενα χρόνια και από Έλληνες αρχαιολόγους . Το 1972 ,ο Αμερικανός αρχαιολόγος Cooper, ανοίγοντας τρύπες, στα θεμέλια του ναού,διαπίστωσε ότι είχε θεμελιωθεί πάνω σε αλλεπάλληλα στρώματα χαλικιών . Το γεγονός αυτό, τροφοδότησε θεωρίες ότι ο ναός, είχε την δυνατότητα της πολύ μικρής περιστροφής ( 50,2 δευτερόλεπτα της μοίρας ), έτσι ώστε να μπορεί να ευθυγραμμίζεται με την μετάπτωση των ισημεριών … και να βλέπει πάντα τον τριπλό ήλιο Σείριο …

Ο ναός αποτελεί μέρος της σπουδαίας ιστορίας της περιοχής . Ξεκινώντας από το Λύκειο όρος, όπου σώζονται λείψανα του αρχαίου σταδίου που υπήρχε εκεί,συνεχίζεται στην αρχαία Αλίφειρα ( 11 χιλιόμετρα από την Ανδρίτσαινα ) όπου σώζονται λείψανα του ναού της Αθηνάς, καθώς και θολωτοί τάφοι . Από εδώ και δια μέσου του σημερινού χωριού Δαφνούλα, όπου ανακαλύφτηκαν απομεινάρια Ρωμαϊκών λουτρών ( στην θέση Μαυρόρεμα ) , καταλήγει κανείς στην Αρχαία Ολυμπία .

Βιβλιογραφία :

Παυσανίας : Έλληνας περιηγητής του 2ου αιώνα μετά τον Χριστό

ΒΙΚΙΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ .

Frederick Cooper : Αμερικανός αρχαιολόγος ( διεξήγαγε ανασκαφές στον ναό , αλλά και αλλού στην Ελλάδα .

Νίκος Καζαντζάκης : Έλληνας ταξιδευτής, συγγραφέας , ιστορικός και φιλόσοφος.

Photos : John Michopoulos

Camera : Nikon D-90

The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae

See more :Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/392/

Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae

This famous temple to the god of healing and the sun was built towards the middle of the 5th century B.C. in the lonely heights of the Arcadian mountains. The temple, which has the oldest Corinthian capital yet found, combines the Archaic style and the serenity of the Doric style with some daring architectural features.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The columned temple of Apollo Epicurius rises majestically within the sanctuary of Bassae in the mountains of Arkadia. It is one of the best-preserved monuments of classical antiquity and an evocative and poignant testament to classical Greek architecture. It is highly significant for its architectural features and influence.

The temple was built at the height of the Greek civilization in the second half of the 5th century BC (420-400 BC). It was dedicated to Apollo Epicurius by the Phigaleians, who believed the god of sun and healing had protected them from plague and invasion. In 174 AD the ancient traveller Pausanias admired the beauty and harmony of the temple and attributed it to Iktinos, the architect of the Parthenon.

The temple appears to have been forgotten for almost 1700 years until it was rediscovered in the 18th century and attracted intense interest from scholars and artists. The isolation of the site ensured many significant features survived largely intact. The temple is one of the earliest post-Parthenonian edifices and the earliest monument in which all three ancient Greek architectural orders – Doric, Ionic and Corinthian – are found together. It also included the earliest surviving Corinthian column capital. The temple further exhibits a number of bold and innovative architectural designs that mark a turning point in the development of temple-building. Through a series of ingenious devices, the architect successfully balanced contrasting elements and blended the old with the new, contributing to the unique architectural and artistic value of the monument. The temple, as well as its sculptural decoration consist one of the best-preserved samples of the ancient Greek civilization, from the period of its heyday (5th century BC).

Criterion (i): The Temple of Bassae represents a unique artistic achievement, remarkable for its archaic features (elongated surface, an exceptional proportion of 15 columns on the longer side and 6 columns on the facade, and a north-south exposure), and for its daring innovations: use of Ionic and Corinthian orders for a Doric edifice, the variety of materials used, and the originality of the layout of the cella and the adyton.

Criterion (ii): The capital of the central column of the Temple of Bassae is the most ancient conserved Corinthian capital, and as such the temple may be considered a model for all “Corinthian” monuments of Greek, Roman and subsequent civilisations.

Criterion (iii): Isolated as it is in a conserved environment, the temple of Apollo is an outstanding example of a Hellenic votive sanctuary in a rural setting.

Integrity

The World Heritage property contains within its boundaries all the key attributes that convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The integrity of the monument is primarily ensured by relative isolation of the property and the designation of the surrounding area as an archaeological site. All the significant elements of the temple, such as its outer colonnade, as well as many features of the internal architecture arrangement, are preserved largely intact. The decorative frieze of sculptured panels that formed an integral part of the design was removed in 1812 and remains in the British Museum together with the Corinthian capital.

A series of coordinated management interventions have been established to ensure the continuing protection of the site as a whole, including a protective shelter and water runoff system to minimize deterioration from the extreme weather.

Authenticity

The long distance of the property from settlements has ensured a high degree of authenticity. The site was forgotten for 1700 years ensuring that there were no significant modifications to the structure after its completion in the 5th century. As a consequence the structure and almost all of its building material has been preserved and the temple is one of the most authentic from this period.

The declaration of a large conservation zone around the temple ensures that the site retains its original setting within a natural landscape. The temple’s restoration and conservation works have been conducted according to the international restoration principles, and where necessary, additions to the site are made using the local limestone (a material similar to that used in the monument). The temple and the surrounding landscape, preserved almost intact through the course of centuries, impress the visitor of today, who comes in contact with the first expressions of trends that determined the evolution, both of art and architecture.

Protection and management requirements

The property is protected under the provisions of Law No. 3028/2002 on the “Protection of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage in general”. The broader area of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius has been designated as an archaeological site (Ministerial Decree 44671/1836/5-11-1986). Following a series of expropriations, an additional expanse of 4.5 ha was added to the archaeological site in 1996. The property has a sufficient buffer zone, while the greater area of the temple does not contain any building that could impede visual contact with the monument or the archaeological site.

The property is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, Education and Religious Affairs, through the Ephorate of Antiquities of Eleia, its competent Regional Service, which has undertaken the works of preservation and protection of the monument. The Committee for the Conservation of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius was established in 1975, in order to supervise more effectively the systematic works necessary for the conservation of the monument. The temple’s restoration works started in 2001 and are still in progress. The financial resources for the project derive by the state budget as well as European Union’s funds.

The monument and its surrounding area are fenced and protected 24 hours per day to minimize the risk of vandalism. The greatest threats to the property stem from inherent weaknesses in the building structure and the adverse effects of climate and environment, including extreme temperatures, strong wind, water and seismic activity. Restoration and conservation work thus seek to address these issues. An antiseismic netting as well as a lightning protection system have been installed at the temple. Planned future works continue the current restoration work. This includes replacement of the protective shelter, which has been constructed to minimize damage caused by the extreme weather conditions and provide more favourable conditions for major restoration work. In addition, the scheduled installation of a permanent water supply system will contribute significantly to a more effective fire protection system for the entire property.

Links

Greece

Date of Inscription: 1986

Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)

Property : 20.46 ha

Buffer zone: 201.58 ha

Dossier: 392

Prefectures of Messenia, Arcadia, and Ilia in the Western Peloponnese

N37 26 5.928 E21 53 48.984

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Disclaimer

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