Pronaos of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassae - spring 2006

Bassae has been inscribed on the World Heritage List for twenty five years. There has been a plastic tent over the temple since the late 1980's - a temporary measure to protect the temple while restoration is carried out, designed to last at least 20 years... and here we are 25 years on. The temple is much studied, belonging to the classical classical period, having been constructed between 450 BC and 400 BC.

Because of the strange lay of the land in the particular spot, the temple is aligned north-south, with the main entrance from the north, and a small "window" to the east to allow the rising sun to fall on the cult statue of Apollo.

The temple is unusual for another reason too: it has examples of all three of the classical orders used in ancient Greek architecture. Doric columns form the peristyle, Ionic columns support the porch and a sole Corinthian column (the earliest discovered to date) was placed in the naos itself.

In this photo we can see some of the columns of the peristyle standing on new cement bases while the stylobate is be dug up, strengthened and relayed.

The photos were taken on a chilly spring morning in 2006 on a nikkormat EL with nikkor glass.