There are many sculptures and images of cults that you can see when visiting temples from ancient times. In the beginning, cult imagery was made from wood. Later they were made from cast bronze and stone. Crystelephantine, a mix of ivory and gold, is the material used to create some of the most beautiful cult imagery. One such statue was that of Zeus, which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Parthenon
The Parthenon, one of the most famous ancient temples in the world, is a masterpiece of architecture. While the building's long, horizontal lines may appear to sag in appearance, the designers bent them intentionally. The entire structure appears more dynamic because the vertical columns are thicker in their middle. Parthenon's architects included hidden devices like curved columns into their structure. This contributes to its overall appearance.
Parthenon is a marvellous example of architectural sophistication. Friezes of battles and gods can be found in the temple's upper portion. The friezes show a child holding a folded blanket and two girls with something.
Heraion
The Heraion ancient Temple in Samos is a vast sanctuary dedicated the goddess Hera. The site is about six kilometers southwest of Samos Ancient City. It was a popular spot for worship in early Hellenistic times. This temple was one the earliest freestanding Ionic giant temples. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.
The site has been a popular destination for visitors to Samos for a long time. Here began a long-term campaign of excavations in 1925. The Second World War saw work interrupted, but was resumed in 1952. Ernst Buschor & Ernst Homann Wedeking led the excavation project, which continued until the early 1960s. These excavations established the chronology of this site and revealed many votive objects dating back to the 8th Century.
Athena Nike temple
The Athena Nike temple, dedicated to the goddesses Athena Nike, is one of the oldest temples at the Acropolis. It was built in 420 BC. It boasts beautiful marble columns, walls, and statues depicting the goddesses, all intricately carved.
The temple is located on the Acropolis bastion. It is a fine example Greek architecture. It was built in the Ionic style with four monolithic columns at the east and west ends. Athena Nike was the goddess of victory and was worshipped there. The temple also housed a wooden cult statue of Athena Nike, which held a helmet in one hand and a pomegranate tree in the other.
Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple
The Hatshepsut moruary temple is an example of beautiful ancient Egyptian architecture. This structure is located in Luxor Egypt. It was constructed during the reign Pharaoh Hatshepsut. It is still considered a masterpiece in ancient architecture.
Although the structure is similar to that of Mentuhotep 2, it was more elaborately designed. It is made up of three layers and has Proto Doric column. The gardens surrounding the temple were also impressive.