A mountainside city on Arkadia (Arcadia).
Located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from the city of Phigalia in Arkadia, is Mount Kotilius (Cotilius) and the temple at Bassae dedicated to Apollon Epikourios (Helper). The temple was made entirely of stone, including the roof, and was noted as being one of the most beautiful and unique temples on the Peloponnesus. Dating from circa 440 BCE and designed by a man named Iktinus (Ictinus), the temple was oriented to face north-south instead of the traditional east-west.
The surname "Helper" apparently signified Apollon's protection afforded to the people of Phigalia during the war between Sparta and Athens (431–404 BCE), perhaps to avert the plague that ravaged Athens at that time.
The ruins of the temple are protected by UNESCO. The most notable surviving artifacts are the fragments of the sculptured frieze that once decorated the interior of the temple, now on display at the British Museum in London.
Latitude North, Longitude East
37.4296, 21.9003
Pictured below are portions of the sculptured frieze from Bassae, representing battles of Lapiths and Centaurs, and Greeks and Amazons.
| References: Pausanias, Description of Greece book 8 (Arcadia) chapter 30.4 |