From its perch atop a pine-covered hill on the island of Aegina, the imposing temple of the Aphaia watches over the sea.

Built in the early sixth century to replace an earlier Doric temple, this well-preserved structure, located on the north-east side of the island, is dedicated to the goddess Aphaia. The original, Doric-style structure was built from local limestone, with a double internal colonnade and a pitched roof with tiles made of Parian marble. Its pediment sculptures are exhibited in Munich’s Glyptothek museum.

The pediments depict themes from the Trojan War, featuring local heroes like Telamon, son of Eakos. The western pediment is Archaic, dating from the late sixth century BC, while the eastern has classical themes from the early fifth century BC. The Temple of the Aphaia, along with the Acropolis and Temple of Sounion, align to form a triangle.