The Temple of Apollo Epikourios is a remarkable ancient Greek temple located at Bassae, in the mountainous region of Arcadia in the central Peloponnese, Greece. It is one of the most important and best-preserved classical monuments of antiquity, recognized for its architectural innovation and historical significance.

Key Facts:

• Date Built: Around 450–400 BCE.
• Architect: Attributed to Iktinos, one of the architects of the Parthenon.
• Purpose: Dedicated to Apollo Epikourios (“Apollo the Helper”) in gratitude for deliverance from a plague.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Inscribed in 1986.

Architectural Features:

• Style: A mix of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian elements—unusual for Greek temples.
  • Exterior: Doric columns.
  • Interior: Ionic columns and a single Corinthian column—the earliest known example of the Corinthian order.
• Orientation: North-south, rather than the traditional east-west orientation.
• Material: Local limestone with some marble elements.
• Seclusion: Located in a remote area, which helped preserve it over centuries.

Significance:

• The temple is notable for its blend of architectural orders and technical sophistication.
• It shows the transition in Greek architecture from the archaic to the classical style.
• The Corinthian capital inside is considered a prototype of what became a widely used order in later Greek and Roman architecture.

Preservation:

• A protective tent structure currently covers the temple to protect it from environmental damage.
• Ongoing restoration work is overseen by the Greek Ministry of Culture and international conservation bodies.