Acropolis - Old Temple of Athena

(Local Name: Hekatompedon) The Old Temple of Athena, also known as the Hekatompedon because its cella measured 32.8m/100ft by 16.4m/50ft, was built in the early sixth century B.C. within the precincts of the Mycenaean royal palace of the 14th century B.C. (now represented only by two column bases from its megaron, protected by gratings). The cella had no surrounding colonnade.

The great pediment of poros limestone in the Acropolis Museum probably came from this temple; it depicts in the center bulls being attacked by lions, on the left Herakles and Triton, on the right a monster with three bodies (Nereus?).

Around 525 B.C. Peisistratos built a temple with a colonnade of 6 by 12 columns, either a reconstruction of the Hekatompedon or an entirely new structure. In the pediment figures, depicting Athena in a fight with giants, marble was used for the first time on the Acropolis. This "Old Temple" superseded the Hekatompedon as the sanctuary of Athena Polias and took over the old wooden cult image of the goddess.

The temple was destroyed by the Persians in 480 B.C. together with all the other buildings of the Archaic period. In 406 B.C. the remains were razed to the ground after the transfer of the cult image to the new temple of Athena in the eastern part of the Erechtheion.

The foundations of the temple were brought to light in the 19th century; they can be seen immediately south of the Erechtheion.