Temple of Athena Alea


The Temple of Athena Alea was a sanctuary at Tegea in Ancient Greece, dedicated to Athena under the epithet Athena Alea. It was a significant temple, regarded to be one of the most important shrines of Athena in Ancient Greece.

History

The temple was said to have been built by Aleus, the son of Apheidas, from whom the goddess probably derived this epithet.
The first temple burned down in 394 BC, and a second temple was built by the architect Scopas.
The temple of Athena Alea at Tegea was an ancient and revered asylum, and the names of many persons are recorded who saved themselves by seeking refuge in it.
Among the famous people seeking asylum at the temple, Pausanis recounts Chryseis, the Spartan Leotychides, and the Spartan general Pausanias:

Structure

The second sanctuary was a temple of the Doric order which in size and splendor was said to surpass all other temples in the Peloponnese, and was surrounded by a triple row of columns of different orders. Pausanias described the exterior:

The statue of the goddess was made by Endoeus all of ivory. It was described as "... made throughout of ivory, the work of Endoeus. Those in charge of the curiosities say that one of the boar's tusks has broken off; the remaining one is kept in the gardens of the emperor, in a sanctuary of Dionysos, and is about half a fathom long." The cult statue was subsequently carried to Rome by Augustus to adorn the Forum of Augustus.
The interior of the temple was described by Pausanias:

Cult

Two festivals were celebrated at the sanctuary:
The priest of the temple of Athena Alea at Tegea was a boy, who held office only until reaching the age of puberty.

Excavations

The Archaeological Museum of Tegea narrates the history of the temple and displays collections from the excavations.