Naxos Demeter Temple

Near the village of Sangri, 10 km from Naxos Town, lies the sacred temple of Demeter. This magnificent temple has been made exclusively of the finest quality Naxos marble and dates back to the 6th century BC.

As Demeter was the Olympian goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility, people built temples dedicated to her on fertile lands, such as that of Sangri.

The rise

Excavations have led to the conclusion that the area was serving religious purposes since the late Mycenaean Era. During that time, places of worship used to be open-air.
The temple of Demeter in its current form was built around 530-520 BC, in the Doric architectural style that later influenced the Parthenon of Athens. It is of major archaeological importance, and some of its best-preserved sections have helped experts gain a better understanding of the architecture of that period.

Its construction took place under the rule of Lygdamis, the tyrant of Naxos. Lygdamis had planned to create some of Greece’s most impressive monuments in Naxos, including the Temple of Demeter and Portara, which supposedly would be a part of a great temple dedicated to Apollo that was never completed.

The fall

The temple’s popularity began to decline after the 3rd century BC. When Christianity took over, the temple of Demeter was converted to a Christian basilica, and a small church was built in its center. The chapel was dedicated to Saint John, with marble from the ancient temple used for its construction. Fortunately, only some minor modifications were made to the monument.

The church was probably ruined in the 6th century AD after an Arabic invasion, although some remnants lie there. It was rebuilt in 1977 in a different location, in the south.

The restoration

The remains of the ancient temple of Demeter were discovered by the archaeologist Nikolaos Kontoleon in 1949. The excavations lasted from 1976 to 1995. Fragments of the temple were recovered from all around the area, although many had been looted.

In the mid-1990s, a group of German archaeologists restored the temple partially to revive its ancient glory.

Today, the Temple of Demeter is one of the most beautiful ancient Greek temples, set in a picturesque environment in the area of Sangri.
Authentic parts of the temple that were not used during the restoration process are housed in a small museum near the archeological site that is open to the public.
The museum is open every day except for Tuesdays from 08:30 to 15:30.
Entrance to the outdoor archeological site is free.