You will see many sculptures and cult imagery made from different materials when you visit ancient temples. In the beginning, cult imagery was made from wood. Later they were made from cast bronze and stone. Crystelephantine, a mix of ivory and gold, is the material used to create some of the most beautiful cult imagery. Zeus was one of these statues, and it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a great example of architecture. While the building's long, horizontal lines may appear to sag in appearance, the designers bent them intentionally. They also made the vertical columns thicker in the middle, making the entire structure appear more dynamic. Many hidden features, such as curved columns, were also included by the architects of Parthenon, which adds to the overall design.
Parthenon is a marvellous example of architectural sophistication. The upper part of the temple's wall has friezes depicting battles and gods. A child is shown holding a folded cloth. Two girls are carrying something.
Heraion
The Heraion ancient Temple in Samos is a vast sanctuary dedicated the goddess Hera. The site, which is six kilometres to the southwest of Samos ancient city, was an ideal spot for early Hellenistic worship. This temple was one of the earliest giant free-standing Ionic temples and was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992.
For a long period, the site has been a popular tourist destination in Samos. Here began a long-term campaign of excavations in 1925. Work was stopped 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 established the chronology of this site and revealed many votive objects dating back to the 8th Century.
Athena Nike temple
The Athena Nike temple is dedicated the goddesses Athena Nike and is one among the oldest temples on Acropolis. It was built around 420 BC and is considered to be the earliest fully Ionic temple. It features beautiful, intricately carved marble walls, columns, and 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, a goddess of victory, was worshipped here. Also found within the temple was a wooden cult figure of Athena Nike that held a helmet and a tree of pomegranate in one hand.
Hatshepsut mortuary temple
Beautiful examples of ancient Egyptian architecture can be found in the Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple. This building is located at Luxor, Egypt. It was built during Hatshepsut’s reign. It is still considered a masterpiece in ancient architecture.
The structure is identical to the Mentuhotep 2 temple, but was constructed more elaborately. It features Proto Doric columns and three layers. It was also surrounded with gardens.