The Classical-Era Temple of Pallinis Athena (at Gerakas, Attica)

thingiverse

The Temple of Athena Pallinis was an important temple of the Classical Era, built in ancient Pallene, in Attica. The temple was dedicated to goddess Athena and was constructed in the place, where, according to the ancient legends, the goddess vanquished the giant Pallas (during the mythical Gigantomachy). The temple was part of the ancient Sanctuary of the goddess that also -among others- included a propylon structure and an earlier temple of the Archaic Era. The temple itself is considered to be a creation of the so-called Theseion Architect that also constructed the temple of Hephaestus at Theseion, Athens, the temple of Poseidon at Sounion and the temple of Nemesis, at Ramnous, near Marathon. Despite the fact that it was considered by both ancient writers and modern historians as one of the most important temples of the wider region, its exact location was unknown for many centuries. That is because a big portion the building material of the temple was removed in two different occasions. First in the years of Emperor Octavian, some of the aforementioned material was taken, probably to be used in another temple and a lot later, during the Middle Byzantine Period, some of the rest was reused in the construction of the old church of Agios Ioannis (St. John) at Gerakas, Attica. The location of the ancient Sanctuary and the temple was revealed during building activities in 1994, at the moder town of Gerakas (that was part of ancient Pallene). The Greek Archaeological Service excavated the site, but, unfortunately, the area has not been formed yet as a proper archaeological site. This 3D model of the temple was based on the plans of Professor M. Korres, the description of the archaeologist, M. Platonos-Giota (in her related publication in the journal Archaeology and Arts, in 1997) and for the missing details, in the descriptions of professor D. Plantzos of the temple of Hephaestus at Theseion (a creation of the same architect), from his book "Greek Art and Archaeology. 1100-30 BC" (KAPON Editions, 2011). The model of the temple was created in order both to inform about this, not so well-known monument of Attica and (mainly) to support the fair demand of many of the inhabitants of the region of Gerakas for the archaeological site of the ancient sanctuary to be properly utilized, by being turned into an organized, open to the public and friendly to the visitor archaeological site that will benefit the town both culturally and economically.