Near the present-day village of Skilloundia, south of the river Alpheios, are the remains of the temple of Athena, dedicated by the inhabitants of ancient Makistos to their common goddess and goddess of all Greeks. The city of Makistos, according to Herodotus, was part of the Hexapolis founded by the Minyans in the Elean Triphylia and must be sought near the temple. Makistia was also the name of the wider area defended by the city and which, according to Strabo, both the city and the area had been deserted in the Hellenistic years.
The ancient cemetery of the 4th c. BC with burials of various types that the visitor encounters on the provincial road, in close proximity to the temple of Athena, probably belonged to Makistos. However, until today, no archaeological remains have been identified with certainty of this city, while according to some scholars, ancient Makistos should be sought in the current archaeological site of Samiko and the area of Kaifas.
The temple of Athena awaits the visitor at the top of a walled hill, at an altitude of 354m, which is crowned mainly by kermes oaks, low vegetation and a few pines. A large oak tree stands very close to the temple ready to offer its cool shade on hot summer days.
Due to the extensive stone robbery of the temple in later times, only the three-step krepis and few, scattered architectural members survive from the monument today. The once impressive temple follows the Doric order and is made of friable shelly limestone, a type of local limestone from which the monuments of the Sacred Altis in Olympia have also been built. According to morphological, historical, and epigraphic testimonies, the date of the temple is estimated between 525 – 460 BC.
The pediments on the roof of the temple were richly decorated with sculptural compositions inspired by mythology: the eastern side hosted representations of Gigantomachy while on the western side of the Amazonomachy.
The excavations of the temple were carried out in different time periods, starting in 1880 by E. Castorchis and P. Cavvadias. During the excavation works in 1978-1981, the discovery of a bronze inscription of the 4th c. BC with a resolution of the Common of Triphylians, referring to the goddess Athena and citizens of Makistos, helps to identify the temple.
Many of the temple’s excavations findings, such as the bronze inscription mentioned above, or some marble bearded heads of figures and a statue of a naked helmeted warrior that adorned the pediments, are currently hosted in the Archaeological Museum of Pyrgos.
Copyediting: Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia
Access by private car. Access to the archaeological site via the country road and a footpath.
Outdoor spaces. Always open. By prior arrangement with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia
- 26240 22742 - 2624023753 (Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia)
- Police Department of Ilia - P.D. of Krestena, Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia
