Photographer's Note
This is my 700th photo on TE, dedicated to all TE members with greetings from Greece.
The temple of Afaia in Aigina is one of the most impressive buildings of the post-archaic era. The temple is dominant in the holy area of Afaia, which was founded by Aiginites as a tribute to the Minoan deity Afaia, daughter of Zeus and Karmi. Afaia has been identified by numerous researchers as Britomarti, but also as Diktynna Artemis. The legend has it that Afaia resorted to Aigina and hided in a forest, in order to avoid the furious love of King Minoan of Crete. In this very forest, the Aiginites founded a sacred place to honour her. The temple was built for the first time around 570-560 B.C, but it was devastated by a fire. Around 500-490 B.C the temple took the form that we see today. Unfortunately, the holy place at the interior was not maintained for long time, since the decline of the island around the middle of 5th century. By 2nd century B.C the entire place wasabandoned.
The temple of Afaia retains a Dorian type of architecture and it is considered by many as the prototype designed by the architects of Parthenon. The temple has 12 columns across its length and 6 columns across its width. These columns are monoliths with 20 striations each, apart from 3 that are conjoined parts. Entering the temple was only possible through an inclining level at the eastern side of the temple. The sculptures on the frieze were made out of marble from the island of Paros. The theme of the two friezes of the temple of Afaia was the battles in Troy where Aiakides, Telamonas, Aiantas and Achilleas had many distinctions. Goddess Athena is present in every representation, justifying partly why many times the temple is named Afaia Athena.
The temple was left deserted for centuries, dominant in the landscape of the region, until two seemingly ‘Philhellenic’ Europeans initiated the first excavations in 1811; an English architect and a German baron, obviously after bribing some local authority, took off the sculptures on the friezes and transported them to Italy. From there they were sold to the German king Ludwig. Today these sculptures are showcased in Munich’s Sculpture Gallery and admired by many visitors of the city. Apparently, the Greek government in order to honour the Germans assigned the first scientific excavation in 1901, to the German Archaeological Institute. Fortunately, the last restoration work that took place between 1956 and 1975 was conducted by A. Orlandos and E. Stikas.
O ναός της Αφαίας στην Αίγινα είναι από τα πιο εντυπωσιακά κτίσματα της υστεροαρχαικής εποχής. Ο ναός δεσπόζει στην περιοχή του ιερού της Αφαίας που ίδρυσαν οι Αιγινίτες για να τιμήσουν την Μινωίτικη θεότητα Αφαία, κόρη του Δία και της Κάρμης. Η Αφαία έχει ταυτιστεί από πολλούς ερευνητές με την Βριτόμαρτι αλλά και την Δίκτυννα Άρτεμι. Ο Μύθος αναφέρει ότι η Αφαία κατέφυγε στην Αίγινα και κρύφτηκε σε ένα δάσος, για να γλύτώσει από την ερωτική μανία του Βασιλιά της Κρήτης Μίνωα. Σε αυτό το δάσος ίδρυσαν οι Αιγινίτες ιερό όπου την τιμούσαν. Ο ναός πρωτοοικοδομήθηκε το 570-560 π.χ αλλά καταστράφηκε από πυρκαγιά. Το 500-490 π.χ κτίσθηκε ο ναός που βλέπουμε σήμερα και διαμορφώθηκε όλος ο χώρος του ιερού. Δυστυχώς το ιερό δεν διατηρήθηκε για μεγάλο διάστημα καθώς άρχισε η παρακμή της Αίγινας ήδη από τα μέσα του 5ου αιώνα. Τον 2ο αιώνα π.χ όλος ο χώρος είχε εγκαταληφθεί.
Ο ναός της Αφαίας είναι δωρικού ρυθμού και από πολλούς θεωρείται το πρότυπο που είχαν στο μυαλό τους οι αρχιτέκτονες του Παρθενώνα. Ο ναός έχει 12 κίονες στις μακριές πλευρές και 6 στις στενές και όλοι είναι μονόλιθοι με 20 ραβδώσεις εκτός από 3 που αποτελούνται από σπονδύλους. Η είσοδος στον ναό γινόταν από ένα επικλινές επίπεδο στην ανατολική πλευρά. Τα γλυπτά των αετωμάτων ήταν από παριανό μάρμαρο. Το θέμα και των δύο αετωμάτων του ναού της Αφαίας είναι οι μυθικές εκστρατείες στην Τροία, καθώς σε αυτές είχαν διακριθεί οι Αιακίδες, Τελαμώνας, Αίαντας και Αχιλλέας. Η θεά Αθηνά είναι παρούσα σε όλες τις παραστάσεις, έτσι δεν είναι τυχαίο που πολλές φορές ο ναός ανομάζεται της Αφαίας Αθηνάς. Αλλώστε για μεγάλο διάστημα πίστευαν ότι στην Αθηνά ήταν αφιερωμένος.
Ο ναός διέσχισε τους αιώνες μέσα στην εγκατάληψη, δεσπόζοντας στην περιοχή μέχρι που δύο "φιλέλληνες" το 1811, ένας Άγγλος αρχιτέκτονας και ένας Γερμανός βαρώνος, έκαναν τις πρώτες "ανασκαφές", προφανώς λαδώνοντας κάποιον τοπικό πασά. Έτσι κατάκλεψαν τα γλυπτά των αετωμάτων, τα οποία μετέφεραν στην Ιταλία και από εκεί τα πούλησαν σε δημοπρασία στον γερμανό βασιλιά Λουδοβίκο. Σήμερα βρίσκονται στη γλυπτοθήκη του Μονάχου για να τα καμαρώνουν οι επισκέπτες της αξιόλογης αυτής γερμανικής πόλης. Το ελληνικό κράτος για να τιμήσει προφανώς τους γερμανούς, ανέθεσε τις πρώτες επιστημονικές ανασκαφές στο χώρο το 1901, στο Γερμανικό Αρχαιολογικό Ινστιτούτο. Ευτυχώς οι τελευταίες αναστηλωτικές εργασίες το 1956-1975 έγιναν από τους Α. Ορλάνδο και Ε. Στίκα.
(http://www.aiginainfo.gr/aeginaisland/aiginaisland/aiginasightseeing/afeastemple/index.html)
ManuMay, saxo042, dkmurphys, jhm, Cretense, Katepina, asajernigan, jusninasirun, pauloog, Longroute, Royaldevon, yeln, josepmarin, dip, romanaa, clio, Charo, raszid62, Hellas, Dashab, kennyblack marcou esta nota como útil
Critiques | Translate
JFS
(32459) 2010-10-10 1:03
Beautiful and nitid shot of this impressive Temple. Very good POV. TFS
Juan
ManuMay
(36447) 2010-10-10 1:12
Hi Vasilis!
Congratulations on this great milestone!!
700 catures where has teched us the world from your eye, with your skills and beautiful way...Thanks!!
And you choose a very beautiful subject, really a symbol...absolutely great!!
Have a nice day...and keep on posting...7000 more!!
Hugs...
Manu
ymrk
(15099) 2010-10-10 1:15
Hitherto,i've seen a lot picture of the Athens!But this is most important than them.And meaningful of course!Congratulations for this one,and 700th.post!
Ta leme,
Yağmur
saxo042
(38078) 2010-10-10 1:18
Hi Vasilis,
Congratulations to #700! A very pleasant view with beautiful colours. indeed a typical view from Greece. A long and interesting note completes this contribution!
Kind regards
Gunnar
peppe59
(14555) 2010-10-10 1:27
Ciao Vasilis,
much beautiful and interesting this tempio Greek, beautifulst the contrasts and fantastic the sky. Much beautiful one! it compliments and the good Sunday
peppe
siudzi
(34141) 2010-10-10 1:52
Hello Vasilis,
Very beautiful shot of this ancient temple! You composed the foreground, middle ground and background perfectly! Love your picture very much! Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice day! M
dkmurphys
(79209) 2010-10-10 2:05
Hi Vasilis,
Congratulations for your impressive posts number. A perfect image to celebrate this, a perfect shot of your incredible heritage.
Have a nice Sunday.
janneman
(4037) 2010-10-10 3:09
Congratulations with 700 photos on Te and with this one!
Love the pov. The way the stones are placed in the first plan, leads your eye to the temple. Well done.
Regards, Jan
npecanhuk
(79329) 2010-10-10 3:10
Hi Vasilis!
Sincere congratulations for your 700th post here at TE with all of us!
For us who love this place, it's always a great moment to reach such number of photos inserted in this site!
Well, those ancient ruins are so beautiful and you took an excellent picture of it!
Cheers,
Neyvan
PixelTerror
(0) 2010-10-10 3:11
HI Vasilis
Congratulations for your 700th !
A nice temple image from Greece, with light on the columns and a nice dramatic sky over it, I like the wide angle feeling
Have a nice day JY
jhm
(211738) 2010-10-10 4:11
Hello Vasilpro,
Congratulations for your 700th picture on TE.
You create a wonderful image of the temple of Afaia in Aigina is one of the most impressive buildings, splendid done this is anniversairy picture.
Wonderful perspective and depth picture.
Nice captured and good composed, very well done, TFS.
Have a nice sunday,
John
Cretense
(68709) 2010-10-10 4:17
Γεια σου Βασίλη! Κατ' αρχήν συγχαρητήρια για το σημαντικό "ορόσημο", εύχομαι να συνεχίσεις να μοιράζεσαι μαζί μας τις υπέροχες φωτογραφίες για πολύ καιρό ακόμα!
Συγχαρητήρια όμως και για αυτή την εξαιρετική φωτογραφία, τέλεια από κάθε άποψη. Εξαιρετική γωνία λήψης, σύνθεση και κάδρο, καταπληκτικός φωτισμός, υπέροχα χρώματα!
Ηρακλής
TGULUMSER
(13252) 2010-10-10 5:17
Hello Vasilis,
Congratulations for the 700th post. Your shot is impressive with a nice POV and a beautiful color of the sky,
Best regards,
Tulay
Jeppo
(17645) 2010-10-10 6:32
ciao vasilis
nice image with a great blue sky to celebrate your 700th post on TE
congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tfs
silvio
timecapturer
(49288) 2010-10-10 7:07
Yasou Vasilis
excellent capture of this beautiful monument, so well composed with he blocks drawing you into the picture.
Well done.
Brain D.
Sergiom
(117241) 2010-10-10 7:39
Bonjour Vasilis
Superbe pint de vue. Les pierres à l'avant plan guident le regard vers ce temple magnifique qui se dore dans ce ciel magnifique.
Amicalement
Serge
yquem46
(38752) 2010-10-10 7:45
Bonsoir vasilis
i like this one where the colors are natural
Well composed with the fallen pieces of stone as the FG
Congrats for your 700 contributions to TE
Best regards
patrick
mesutilgim
(0) 2010-10-10 10:06
Hi dear Vasilis
First of all congratulations to your 700th entry at TE.
Secondly, congratulations for this wonderfull capture; Athena, one of the most fascinating goddesses of the greek antiquity celebrates your TE success as well.
A nice capture under the typical Aegean sky !
May other's follow and may this nice site help all of us to increase our photographic skills and know each other better !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM
carlosmarin
(11954) 2010-10-10 10:06
Hello Vasilis,
Congratulations on your 700 photos, shared in TE.
The photo of today, of the temple at Aegina, is wonderful. Balanced POV. Good frame. Beautiful colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Regards,
Carlos
bema
(26591) 2010-10-10 10:36
Jassu Vasilis,
once again my congratulations for your next milestone here on TE..
and you present us here a very good motive, captured in a fantastic light woth a great pov and colors..
see you, filika Bernd
francio64
(39888) 2010-10-10 11:55
Ciao Vasilis,
complimenti per il traguardo della 700th.
POV ben scelto con un cielo molto bello ad arricchire la composizione.
Well done and TFS!
Francesco
asajernigan
(21427) 2010-10-10 12:23
Vasilis,
Congratulations on your 700th post! This is a great shot taken from a wonderful POV. The low POV allows us to see the pieces of the ruins that would look like rocks from a higher POV. The upward view of the temple places it against the great sky providing fine contrast. The lighting and colors are fine as is the photo's sharpness.
TFS,
Asa
Ricx
(13495) 2010-10-10 14:36
Great posting for your great milestone- what an amazing effort and a great image to celebrate it with. Congrats
hey like the strong lighting and the good POV. well done
jusninasirun
(17529) 2010-10-10 17:32
Hi Vasilis.
Stunning pov on a beautiful day. Love the details and the sky in this well metered exposure. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day.
Regards,
Jusni
emka
(158710) 2010-10-10 23:59
hello Vasilis,
Congratulations for the 700 posts! Tanks a lot for showing us a beauty of Greece and the islands. Fanastic photo of the anrique temple. i didn't heard about tjis one and it is wonderful. Well done.
Warm regards
Malgorzata
pablominto
(53746) 2010-10-11 0:09
Hello Vasilis,
An interesting old ruin, but still so much left of the structure we can see it was built in the classical temple design!
I like the composition with inclusion of the big rocks to create depth, and the dramatic sky makes a fine background...
Good DoF with sharp details..!
Greetings,
Pablo -
pauloog
(11751) 2010-10-11 1:15
Hello Vasilis,
The temple well presented, standing mostly destroyed but still with great dignity. Well profield agaisnt a sculpted sky.
Keep posting!
Regards,
Paul
Longroute
(19600) 2010-10-11 3:12
This is a splendid photo Vasilis,
you framed very well this fantastic temple including the big rocks in the foreground and with a deep blue polarized sky in the bg, so that the temple really stand out very vividly.
Good light too and lovely textures and colours.
Congratulations for your goal and for this excellent capture.
Best regards,
Donato
yeln
(11516) 2010-10-11 4:44
hi Vasilis
najprej iskrene čestitke za 700th post. veliko časa in truda je bilo potrebno, da dosežeš to število.
fotografija je naravnost fantastična!!! TFS!
lep dan želim, vojko
Royaldevon
(86392) 2010-10-11 4:45
Hello Vasilis,
It isn't always easy to make interesting ruins look interesting on a photograph. The viewer doesn't have the same emotion with which you were viewing the site, but you have done an exceptional job, here.
The f/g remains are sharply textured and grab the viewer's interest and imagination, in a lead up to the more commanding ruins.
You have used the rule of 'thirds' well, with the foacl temple nicely off-centre.
Congratulations on this 700th beauty!
Have a good day,
Bev :-)
josepmarin
(59385) 2010-10-11 5:54
Hi Vasilis,
My congratulations for your 700th photo published on TE!
This one is a great photo, with a spectacular luminosity, very well controlled, and a few beautiful blue tones dominating the image.
The ruins have a great beauty, which you have caught elegantly in a good framing.
It's an excellent work, my friend.
Best regards,
Josep
diomed
(13926) 2010-10-11 8:20
Hi Vassili,
congratulatuions for your 700° post!
Superb view of the Athina Aphaia temple: great DOF, amazing colours, excellent POV, beautifull contrast, impressive image.
Nice week
Antonio
dip
(21408) 2010-10-11 9:58
Geia sou Vasili,
eyxomai oi protes 700 fotografies sou sto TE na einai mono mia mikri arxi!
poli kali epilogi gonias lipsis,apsogo kadrarisma kathos kai omorfa xromata,idika to mple tou ouranou einai eksairetiko!
se xaireto,
Dimitris.
romanaa
(8430) 2010-10-11 11:39
Hello Vasilis,
congratulations for the high number. You have chosen a brilliant picture for that occasion. The ruins are majestic and the light is fabulous against the dark sky... wonderful
Best regards
Romana
clio
(27961) 2010-10-11 23:23
Γεια σου Βασίλη,
A wonderful view of this temple. The POV is excellent and the effect produced by the 18 mm Focal Length is great. Beautiful use of the filter Circular Polarize which gives a particular density to the sky and a wonderful contrast with the color of the stone.
Συγχαρητήρια σε αυτά τα 700 φωτογραφίες. Είμαι πάντα ευτυχής να έρθει να περπατήσει μαζί σου στην Ελλάδα!
Φιλικά
Αρτεμις
CLODO
(45118) 2010-10-12 7:03
Hi Vasilis
I was not at home this week end, so I missed it.
First of all, congratulations for your active participation in this site.
Nice 700th picture with a good low POV to include the stones and a dark cloudy sky to enhance the pillars of the temple.
Kind regards
CLODO
Charo
(51290) 2010-10-12 14:04
Hello Vasilis,
A beautiful picture of this historic place to celebrate your picture 700. I want to celebrate another 700 more and teach us the wonderful places in your country seen through your eyes. Congratulations!
Excellent perspective and the contrast with the sky full of dark clouds, which makes it stand out more columns of this temple.
Best wishes,
Charo
raszid62
(18457) 2010-10-12 14:49
Καλό βράδυ
Είναι μια φορά έπρεπε να είναι ένα υπέροχο και πλούσιο ναό. Ακόμα και σήμερα τα ερείπια έχουν κάνει πολύ καλή εντύπωση. Υπέροχες σκοτεινό ουρανό έρχεται σε αντίθεση με τα φωτεινά όμορφα ηχεία. Όμορφη σύνθεση.
Δικός σας
Joseph
ines8
(6128) 2010-10-13 6:19
Hi, Vasilis,
Superb picture, really very impressive!Congratulation for all your 700 beautiful pictures.
All the best, dear friend,
ines
leo61
(0) 2010-10-14 10:02
Hi Vasilis!
Great POv and good composition with these rock of the ruin in the foreground.
700 from Greece....I have no one,but I`m working on it....
Regards,Leo
Hellas
(7123) 2010-10-17 23:34
Γεια σου Βασίλη!
Έκανες πολύ καλή δουλειά έτσι ώστε να αναδείξεις την ομορφιά του χώρου. Υπέροχο πλάνο με πλούσιο περιεχόμενο!
Καλή περιοδεία στην πιο Μεγάλη, μικρή χώρα του κόσμου!
kiks
(12805) 2010-10-18 5:36
Goed use of the rocks at the fg of this tempel. It gives more body to the composition. Als o love the color of the sky.
Best regards
KIks
alin-m
(3716) 2010-10-24 3:26
Very nice picture of this site.A full of history picture.
Friendly regards.Alin.
Dashab
(2564) 2010-11-01 10:11
Hello Vasilis,
I have obviously missed your great milestone! So belated contragulations and looking forward to the next 700!
A nicely chosen POV and framing for this shot, excellent light management and nice colours. And thanks for the exhaustive note!
TFS and have a good week,
Dasha
kiasari
(62) 2011-03-01 13:58
Hello Vasilis,
I really like the colors of this photo. A nice shot with a good POV and well managed framing. TFS.
Regards,
Abbas
Robert1969
(7160) 2011-05-02 11:12
Hello Vasilis,
Congratulations with 700 photos on TE.
Very good point of view, very good composition and the beautiful light makes the picture complete...Well done.
Friendly regards,
Robert
dale54
(17768) 2011-11-15 8:38
nice.hi vasilis.well i love this pic.very impressive.have a great week! dr
kennyblack
(4207) 2011-11-27 11:56
Hello Vasilis, Fortunately, Greece and Italy have the historical monuments ... unique in the world and your photo with this excellent presentation ... give a evidence. Very nice and superb 's very detailed image with light and shade perfectly managed. Great job, congratulations.
Greetings, have a nice Sunday ... Marino
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Vasilis Protopapas (vasilpro)
(41801)
- Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2010-09-12
- Categories: Arquitectura, Ruínas
- Camera: Nikon D90, Nikon AF-S VR 18-105mm f/3.5 - 5.6G ED, Hoya 62mm Circular Polarizer
- Exposição: f/13.0, 1/125 segundos
- More Photo Info: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Tema(s): Aegina Island, Temple of Athena Aphaia [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2010-10-10 0:30
Discussions
- To siudzi: Hello Malgorzata (1)
by vasilpro, last updated 2010-10-10 08:39 - To timecapturer: Hello Brian (1)
by vasilpro, last updated 2010-10-10 08:40 - To janneman: Hello Jan (1)
by vasilpro, last updated 2010-10-10 08:41 - To ymrk: Hello Yağmur (1)
by vasilpro, last updated 2010-10-10 08:44