Temple of Athena Polias at Ialysus

The entrance to the Temple of Athena Polias at Ialysus

The History

Ialysus (also Ialysos and Ialyssos) is one of the three ancient cities of Rhodes with remains of occupation dating back to the 3rd millennium BCE and also settlements and cemeteries dating from the Mycenaean-Minoan period.

Hexapolis map
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The district of Ialysus encompasses the northern part of the island. It was inhabited in the prehistoric period. Remains of a Minoan settlement have been found at Trianda and Mycenaean cemeteries have been located on the surrounding hills of Makria Vounara and Moschou Vounara (1700-1400 BCE).

At Ialysus in the NW, in contrast with the extensive and highly productive cemeteries on the lower ground towards Trianda, structural remains of the city are scanty.

The ancient city of Ialysus extended around the hill of Philerimus (also Philerimos and Filerimos), which was the ancient acropolis where there are remains of buildings from the Archaic, Byzantine and Knights' periods.

Ialysus from the Acropolis
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The building remains of ancient Ialysus discovered until now are mainly on the hill of Philerimus, the ancient acropolis, which was given this name in Byzantine times.

Its earliest known name was Achaia, which is further evidence for the presence of Greeks in this area in the Mycenaean period, Strabo calls the hill Ochyroma ("Fortification").

From early times the hill was in fact used as a strong point and also as a place of worship.

Late Classical and early Hellenistic remains preserved on the Acropolis of Ialysus include the foundations of the Temple of Athena Polias and a Doric fountain-house.

Acropolis map
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The Temple of Athena Polias

At the highest point of the Philerimus hill, the ancient Acropolis of Ialysus, are the foundations and column fragments of the Temple of Athena Polias, a Doric structure of the 4th c. BCE; vestiges of a temple from the 6th c. BCE and an older shrine have been found.

The Temple of Athena Polias, which dates to the 3rd-2nd c. BCE, was built over the site of an earlier Classical temple, to judge from the evidence of a 5th c. BCE floor and terra-cotta antefixes found there.

Temple's floor
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The Temple of Athena Polias is a Doric amphiprostyle, tetrastyle or hexastyle temple of poros (that is, with a portico of four or six columns at either end) with a pronaos, cella and opisthodomus.

The Plan of the Temple
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The foundations for the cult statue are preserved at the north end of the cella.

The foundations for the cult statue
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Small column drums and walls inside the cella may have belonged to an interior colonnade (3rd-2nd c. BCE).

Cuttings on the west side of the rock would have been used as depositories for votive offerings or cult purposes.

Cuttings on the west side
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The depository on the west side produced pottery and votive offerings dating from the 9th to the 5th c. BCE.

In addition to the cult of Athena Polias, there are also references to a cult of Zeus Polieus.

In the Early Christian period (5th-6th c. CE) a three-aisled basilica with an atrium was built on the remains of the ancient temple.

Architectural elements from the ancient temple were used in the construction of the basilica.

Frieze used in the medieval monastery
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The Doric fountain

The most impressive ancient monument on the site is a late 4th c. fountain-house built into the hillside lower down the slope to the S, one of the best examples of its type.

The Doric fountain is on the steep south side of the hill, on a small plateau in the almost vertical rock-face.

It takes the form of a stoa constructed of poros and comprises a closed cistern, a second, open cistern with six pillars, linked by closure slabs, and a facade in the form of a stoa with six Doric columns.

The Doric fountain-house
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Waterspouts in the form of lion's heads, set in the closure slabs, channeled the water onto the floor of the stoa.

The third pillar has a late Hellenistic inscription carved on it, listing the penalties to be inflicted on anyone profaning the sanctity of the fountain.

The History of the Excavations

Excavations were carried out by the Italian Archaeological School (in 1914 and 1923-1926) during their occupation of the island.

The earliest phases of the Temple of Athena were excavated as well as the depository containing figurines, pottery and metal objects (9th-5th c. BCE).

The Doric fountain-house was also excavated and restored at this time.

Clickable Plan
Clickable plan of Athena's Temple
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GALLERY

Hexapolis map.
The Dorian Hexapolis (six cities) in Caria embraced the cities of Camirus, Lindus, Ialysus, Cos, Cnidus and Halicarnassus.

  • The cult center of the league was the Temple of Triopian Apollo at Deveboynu near Cnidus.
  • Meeting here periodically, the league discussed matters concerning economy and politics.
  • Festivals were also held in honor of Apollo.

Ialysus Acropolis Map.
The ancient city of Ialysus extended around the hill of Philerimus, which was the ancient acropolis where there are remains of buildings from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Knights' periods.


Clickable plan of the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from SE.
The remains of Athena's Temple are in the first plan.

  • The building behind the ruins is the Church of the Virgin of Philerimus, patron of the Order of the Knights of Malta.

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from SE.
The temple has approximately 23m (75ft) on the longer side (left) and 12m (39ft) on the shorter side (right).


Temple of Athena at Ialysus from E.
Four column drums can be seen at the place where the columns should be.

  • Two columns are completely missing at the far right and far left.

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from E.
The far left column is completely missing or simply didn't exist. This is a Doric amphiprostyle, tetrastyle or hexastyle temple (that is, with a portico of four or six columns at each end).

  • Notice a triglyph and a metope with triglyph placed between the column drums.

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from E.
Between this two column drums was the door of the temple.

  • The distance between axis of these columns is 2.2m (7.2ft).
  • Each block of the stylobate (the 'top step', on which the columns stand) is 1.05m (3.4ft) large.
  • The metope with triglyph which stands between the columns is 64cm (2.1ft) high and 110cm (3.6ft) large.

Triglyph from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.
The triglyphs are decorative blocks with three vertical channels. They are used in alternating pattern with the metope on the Doric entablature. The entablature is the part of architecture that is immediately supported by the columns.

  • This triglyph is 77cm (2.5ft) high and 49cm (1.6ft) large.

Triglyph from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.
On top of the triglyph is the mutule, a flat block projecting under the Doric cornice, decorated on the underside with rows of six drops (guttae) each; occurs over each triglyph and metope of the frieze.


Column drum from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.
The temple was built of poros stone with plaster facing. Notice the plaster on this fluted column drum.

  • This column is 60cm (1.9ft) high and has a diameter of 57cm (1.8ft). Other columns have a diameter of 64cm (2.1ft).

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from Top.
Temple with pronaos (bottom), cella (middle) and opisthodomus (top).

  • Cuttings on the west side (top right) of the rock would have been used as depositories for votive offerings or cult purposes.

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from NE.
The east columns are visible to the left and the pronaos is in front of the picture.


Inside the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from E.
The pronaos is in front of the picture.


Inside the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from N.
The pronaos is to the left and the cella is to the right.


Inside the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from E.
The foundations for the cult statue are preserved at the north end of the cella.


Temple of Athena at Ialysus from NW.
The west columns are visible to the right and the opisthodomus is between them and the cella.

  • The cuttings on the rock that would have been used as depositories for votive offerings or cult purposes are to the left.

North Acroterium (?) from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from SE.

Temple of Athena at Ialysus from W.
Four column drums can be seen at the place where the columns should be.

  • Two columns are completely missing at the far right and far left.

Doric capital from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from E.
The Doric capital surmounts the column through a convex molding, the echinus (top), above this is a flat rectangular slab abacus (bottom).

  • Notice: the Doric capital is turned upside-down.

Doric capital from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from NE.
The temple was built of poros stone with plaster facing.

  • Notice the plaster on this Doric capital.

Doric capital from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from SE.
Notice: the Doric capital is turned upside-down.


Doric capital from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from Top.
The radius is approximately 25cm (9.8in).

  • Notice: the Doric capital is turned upside-down.

South Acroterium (?) from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from NW.

Inside the Temple of Athena at Ialysus from S.
Remains of the white marble floor can still be seen near the south wall.


Frieze from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.
Architectural elements from the temple were used in the construction of the basilica.


Frieze from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.
Architectural elements from the temple were used in the construction of the medieval monastery.


Frieze from the Temple of Athena at Ialysus.
Architectural elements from the temple were used in the construction of the medieval monastery.


Ialysus and Rhodes.
The ancient city of Ialysus extended around the hill of Philerimus, which was the ancient acropolis.

  • The Acropolis of Rhodes can be seen in the far distance from the Acropolis of Ialysus.

The Doric fountain-house at Ialysus.
The Doric fountain-house takes the form of a stoa constructed of poros and comprises a closed cistern, a second, open cistern with six pillars, linked by closure slabs, and a facade in the form of a stoa with six Doric columns.


Tourist Information

Lying to the west of the city of Rhodes, Rhodes island, Greece, is the bay of Ialysus (also Ialysos and Ialyssos), whose shoreline, known as Ixia, is dotted with luxury hotels, shops, restaurants and places of entertainment.

At the end of the bay is the town of Ialysus (Trianta), a place which, despite the growth of tourism, still retains its local color.

Five kilometers from Ialysus lies Philerimus (also Philerimos and Filerimos), a verdant hill with the ruins of the ancient acropolis. The view from here, towards both the sea and the interior of the island, is truly magnificent.

Public buses run regularly to Rhodes Town. Taxis are plentiful and generally good value, but longer journeys can be expensive, so it's a good idea to agree the fare with the driver before you set off.

Ialysus has a wide selection of taverns and restaurants, serving both local and international fare. The Greeks generally eat late, with lunch rarely before 2pm and dinner often as late as 10pm.

Local specialties are: taramasalata; tsatsiki; dolmades (stuffed vine leaves); stifado (beef, veal or rabbit stew); soutzoukakia (meatballs in tomato sauce); keftedes (lamb rissoles); kleftiko (lamb baked in foil); feta cheese salad; and ouzo.

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