Demeter Temple is a magnificent Naxos sighteseeing definitely one of the most imposing sites in Naxos. The Temple of Demeter, the predecessor of the Parthenon, beyond the Sangri village. Ensure to come if you are into art and history!
This stunning temple is rumored that was a forerunner of the Parthenon, built 100 years before Parthenon which is based on its pattern, made completely of the finest quality of Naxos marble and is dated around 530 B.C. Excavations in the area surfaced sculptures and marble votives of an ancient sanctuary along with iconic columns that support a roof. Inscriptions certify that the area was used for religious purposes. The Olympian god Apollo and godess Demeter were worshiped here, along with Demeter’s daughter, Persephone. The temple shows the cult of the gods was open air. Demeter was the goddess of harvest, grain and fertility, so it seems apparently natural to find her temple among these rich fields of Naxos.
Completing the experience on the site is the extraordinary Giroulas museum, where fragments of sculptures, votives, and a reproduction of the three-winged basilica can be seen and admired. The temple stands on a picturesque hilltop overlooking a fertile valley, and it’s in absolute harmony with the natural setting around. The site has won international awards for the way it blends in with the surroundings.
The Demeter Temple is accessible by car, with the last 1 km dirt road. It is just 11 Km away from ELaiolithos, and 15 Km from Naxos town and port.
Entrace for the temple is free. The Museum has a 4 euro entrance fee
The grounds are always open except Tuesdays, from 8.30am–3pm.
