Ancient temples offer the chance to view sculptures made of different materials and cult images. Early cult image carvings were made from wood. Later, cast bronze and stone were used. Crystelephantine, a mix of ivory and gold, is the material used to create some of the most beautiful cult imagery. Zeus was one such statue, and was considered to be 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. Although the building's horizontal lines seem to sag, its designers deliberately curved them. The entire structure appears more dynamic because the vertical columns are thicker in their middle. Parthenon architects also added many hidden devices to the structure, such as curved colonnes, which helps improve its overall appearance.
The Parthenon has an astounding number of architectural refinements. Friezes of battles and gods can be found in the temple's upper portion. The friezes also depict a child holding a folded cloth and two girls carrying something.
Heraion
The Heraion, an ancient temple in Samos Greece dedicated to goddess Hera, is a huge sanctuary. Located about six kilometres southwest of the ancient city of Samos, the site was a prime location for worship in the early Hellenistic period. This temple was one among the earliest Ionic temples that were free-standing and large. It was also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 22 December 1992.
Samos has made this site a popular spot for many years. This site was the first to be excavated in a continuous campaign that began in 1925. Work was interrupted during the Second World War, but resumed in 1951. Ernst Buschor & Ernst Homann Wedeking led the excavation project, which continued until the early 1960s. These excavations helped to establish the chronology of the site and revealed a variety of votive objects from the 8th century.
Athena Nike temple
The Athena Nike Temple is dedicated to Nike and Athena, and is one the oldest temples of the Acropolis. It was built circa 420 BC. It contains columns and marble columns with intricately carved marble, as well statues of the goddesses.
It is situated on the Acropolis' bastion and represents a fine example of Greek architecture. It is built in Ionic style. The east and west fronts have four monolithic pillars. Athena Nike was a goddess of victory and was worshipped here. There was also a wooden Athena Nike cult sculpture in the temple, holding a helmet and an olive tree in one hand.
Hatshepsut mortuary temple
The Hatshepsut moruary temple is an example of beautiful ancient Egyptian architecture. This building, located in Luxor Egypt, was built during Hatshepsut's reign. It is still considered a masterpiece in ancient architecture.
The structure is similar in design to the Mentuhotep III temple, but more intricately constructed. It features three terraces on each side and Proto Doric columns. The temple was also surrounded in gardens.