The first mention of the cape in ancient literature is in the
Odyssey (III, 278), which speaks about "holy Sounion, the
headland of Athens" Fugitive slaves, coming from the mines of
Laurium, took refuge here in the 8th century BC. The cape was
strengthened in 413 BC to protect the export of corn out of
Athens during the Peloponnesian War. Temple of Poseidon Ruins of
the temple of Poseidon, constructed in the 5th century BC over
the ruins of a temple constructed in the Archaic Period, are
perched above the sea at a height of almost 60 metres. The
columns of the temple are 6.10 metres high, with a diameter of 1
metre at the base and 79 centimetres at the top. Their grooves,
fewer than usual (16 instead of 20), were intended to resist the
weathering action of the sea air. The stone was quarried at
nearby Agrileza. The English poet Lord Byron carved his name
onto one of the columns. - Sanctuary of Poseidon and Athena at
Sounion - Greek Ministry of Culture