Rhamnous Ramnoús

Rhamnoús is an ancient city and coastal stronghold on the northeast coast of Attica, opposite the island of Euboea. It is reached from Marathón by way of Káto Soúli (8km/5mi), continuing past the turning for Ayía Marína (on the right, 5km/3mi) for another 2km/1.25mi.

Approaching from the south, we come first to the terrace of the sanctuary of Themis and Nemesis, the goddesses of order and retribution. Immediately adjoining a temple in antis dedicated to Themis and built of polygonal limestone masonry (ca. 500 B.C.), which housed a cult statue by Agorakritos, is the larger temple of Nemesis, built in marble. This is a Doric peripteral temple with 6 x 12 columns which was begun about 430 B.C. but - as can be seen from the unfinished state of some of the columns - never completed. In front of the temple is an altar. From the temple terrace there are beautiful far-ranging views over the site of the ancient town, now largely overgrown by macchia, and across the gulf to the hills of Euboea. A footpath flanked by tombs leads down to the sea, above which rises the acropolis hill. Remains of walls can be seen on the east side, of a theater on the seaward side.