Last weekend was one of the most beautiful weekends of the winter and I found the opportunity to spend some time traveling in history... at the ancient years and the Greek Mythology.

Panos, my son came to spend his weekend with me but, not only with me. My laptop, internet and the online games were also at his intentions but not in my plans. I explained to him that I wanted to drive a little bit and be close to the sea. So... "He, the man of my life should accompany me". That works perfectly with my son!

We checked the map and we decided to choose Sounion as our destination. We uncovered the MG and we enjoyed a trip under the warm sun of the Athenian sky close to the sea, the Aegean sea.

The cape of Sounion or Sounio , in Latin known as Sunium (in ancient Greek Σούνιον) is located 65 kilometres south-east of Athens, in Attica . In ancient times, the promontory there was used to sight ships approaching Athens well before they would arrive.

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.

Cape Sounion is especially famous for the ruins of two temples which overlook the sea, one dedicated to Athena, the other to 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 flutes, fewer than usual (16 instead of 20), were intended to resist the weathering action of the sea air.

A sign of approaching safe harbor for sailors who navigated towards Athens and a sign of farewell for departing ones, the temple of Poseidon has stood silently for thousands of years as a reminder of respect for mighty Poseidon, the God of the sea and his capricious ocean. The temple's proportions are humble and serene, and yet the structure is elevated in a showmanship manner through the massive foundation that raises it so it can be easily spotted by sailors from afar.

While most of the ornaments have been removed, the Doric columns impose a statement of strength, durability and serenity on the entire landscape. The aesthetics of the temple communicate a message most appropriate and welcome for those who braved the ocean in small vessels at the mercy of Poseidon's desires.

Cape Sounio has been recognized since prehistoric times as a special place of worship, and was an important sanctuary during the Greek Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods.

The location of cape Sounio at the tip of Attica rendered it as a location of strategic military importance, and thus it was fortified with a mighty wall and guarded constantly by a garrison which ensured that the shipping lanes to Athens remained open.

Standing atop the cape the horizon is full of sea three quarters of the way and as the rock breaks the stepping plane abruptly towards the smashing waves below, looks as the whole rock is just a floating platform; A massive raft which detached itself from land and history and floated softly along the waves towards the expanse of the Aegean Sea and the depths of History.

The sanctuary at Sounion is one of the most important sanctuaries in Attica. At the end of the Archaic period an imposing temple was constructed in the position of the Classical one seen today, but it was slightly smaller in dimensions. It was Doric, made of poros, with an external colonnade of 6 x 13 columns, and an internal one which supported the roof. Its construction was interrupted by the Persian invasion and the temple remained unfinished.

The later temple, the one preserved today, was also Doric, with 6 x 13 columns, made of Agrileza marble, but without an internal colonnade. The stylobate measured 13,47 x 31,12 m. It was constructed in 450-440 B.C. and, according to another theory, was the work of the architect who had also built the Hephaisteion ("Theseion") in the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Temple of Nemesis at Rhamnous, and the Temple of Ares which was probably erected in Acharnes.

The sculptural decoration of the temple, made of Parian marble, is preserved in a poor condition. The frieze of the east side depicted Centauromachy, and the east pediment (of which only a seated female figure is preserved) probably depicted the fight between Poseidon and Athena for the domination of Attica. The two antae of the east side and several of the columns of the east part of the temple are still preserved today, while the west is completely destroyed.

The north-western corner of the peribolos was intersected by another, elliptic, peribolos, where in all probability the hero Phrontis was worshipped. According to Homer, Phrontis, the helmsman of King Menelaus, was killed by Apollo and buried in the area. Sounion, with its marvellous view and the glorious sunsets which can be seen here, has long attracted travellers from all over the world. One of these was Lord Byron, who thought fit to commemorate his visit by carving his name on the entrance to the Temple of Poseidon.

Sounion is connected with the great story of Theseus, a super hero of the Greek Mythology.

In Greek mythology, Aegeus , also Aigeus , Aegeas or Aigeas , was the father of Theseus and an Athenian King. He was the son of Pandion II and a brother of Pallas, Nisos, and Lykos.

Upon the death of Pandion, Aegeus and his brothers took control of Athens from Metion, who had seized the throne from Pandion. They divided the government in four but Aegeas became king. His first wife was Meta and the second was Chalciope.

Still without a male heir, Aegeus asked the Oracle at Delphi for advice. Her cryptic words were:
"Do not loosen the bulging mouth of the wineskin until you have reached the height of Athens, lest you die of grief."

Aegeus (king of Athens) went to Troezena and met with Aethra, daughter of Troezena's king Pittheus. Pittheus understood the prophecy and introduced Aegeas to his daughter, Aethra, when he was drunk. They had sex and then, in some versions, Aethra waded out to the sea to Sphairia and had sex with Poseidon. When she fell pregnant, Aegeus decided to go back to Athens. Before leaving, he covered his sandals, shield and sword under a huge rock and told her that when their son grew up, he should move the rock and bring the weapons back. Upon his return to Athens, Aegeus married Medea who had fled from Corinth and the wrath of Jason. Aegeus and Medea had one son together named Medus.

In Troezen, Theseus grew up and became a brave young man. He managed to move the rock and took his father's arms. His mother then told him the truth about who his father was and how he should take the weapons back to him. Theseus decided to go to Athens and had the choice of going by sea, which was the safe way or by land, following a dangerous path with thieves and bandits all the way. Young, brave and ambitious, Theseus decided to go to Athens by land.

When Theseus arrived, he did not reveal his true identity. He was welcomed by Aegeas, who was suspicious about the stranger who came to Athens. Medea tried to have Aegeas kill Theseus by asking him to capture the Marathonian Bull, but Theseus succeeded. She tried to poison him but at the last second, Aegeas recognized the sandals, shield and sword and knocked the wine glass out of Theseus' hand. Father and son were reunited.

While visiting in Athens, King Minos ' son, Androgeus, managed to defeat Aegeus in every contest during a feast. Out of jealousy, Aegeus killed him. Minos was angry and declared war on Athens. He offered the Athenians peace, however, under the condition that Athens would send seven young men and seven young women every year to Crete to be fed to the Minotaur, a vicious monster. This continued until Theseus killed the Minotaur with the help of Ariadne, Minos' daughter.

Aegeus had told Theseus, before he left, to put up the white sails when he left Crete, if he had been successful in killing the Minotaur. Theseus forgot and Aegeus jumped into the sea when he saw the black sails coming into Athens, in the mistaken belief that his son had been slain, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Henceforth, this sea was known as the Aegean Sea.