The sculptural adornment of the Temple of Aphaia marks precisely the boundary between two important periods in Greek art. The west pediment is still late archaic, whereas the east pediment is early classical. The temple is a Doric, peripteral hexastyle with twelve columns on the flanks. The two-sloped roof had terracotta roof tiles of the Corinthian type and a single row of marble tiles with palmette-shaped antefixes along the edges. The central, palmette-shaped acroterion, which was framed by two korai, and the four sphinxes on the corners of the roof were also of marble. The pedimental sculptures and the roof acroteria were of Parian marble and painted. The pediments depicted two mythical combats before Troy in the presence of Athena; heroes from Aegina participated in both. The temple remained visible and imposing for many centuries after its abandonment. The architect C. R. Cocherell and his friend baron von Hallerstein explored the site in 1811 and removed the pedimental sculptures to Italy. In 1928 the sculptures were taken to Munich, where they remain.
Source: diazoma.gr
SEE ALSO :
The Dying Warrior and The Fallen Comrades
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