Ancient Greece

Sanctuaries, ruins, and sacred sites

In Greece and along the Mediterranean coast, buildings and their ruins still bear witness today to the artistic sensibility, religion, philosophy and politics of the Greeks – to the world view of that people with whom the history of the Western world once began.

The photographs were commissioned by the magazines GEO and GEO Epoche. The aim was to capture the timeless beauty of these ancient sites. The most significant sites on the Greek mainland and on several islands were photographed.

A highlight of the photographic project was the shoot on the sacred island of Delos, in the heart of the Cyclades. The island’s authorities granted permission to take photographs there for two nights. I was thus able to photograph almost all the important sites on the island.

Alongside the island of Delos, Delphi and the Theatre of Epidaurus are undoubtedly among the most impressive of these ancient sites.

Night photograph of the ancient theatre of Delphi, its stone tiers illuminated against a dark sky — Theatre in Delphi
The theatre of ancient Delphi from the 4th century BC is located above the temple of Apollo. Delphi was considered the centre of the world in ancient Greece and is located on the southwest side of Mount Parnassus - the mountain of art and the Muses.

Apollo Temple and Oracle of Delphi
Oracle of Delphi. In the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi sat the Pythia: a priestess shrouded in the vapours of the underworld, intoxicated by the god, who gave ambiguous answers to those seeking advice - and thus influenced wars and sometimes even the fate of entire empires.

Tholos Temple in Delphi at night — Tholos Temple in Delphi
The tholos, a round temple, still bears witness to the importance of Delphi. In the sanctuary of the city, citizens and envoys from many city states waited for an answer from the oracle.

Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus at night — Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
The theatre of Epidauros, which seats 15,000 spectators, is one of the largest in antiquity and the best preserved. Attending tragedies and comedies was compulsory for citizens in the cities where democracy was developing. The plays depicted the conflicts of the new era: People who were no longer subject to despots learned here that freedom of choice can also have terrible consequences.

The original Olympia Stadium in Olympia at night — The original Olympia Stadium in Olympia
The mother of all stadiums: the original Olympia Stadium from the 5th century B.C. The stone platform on the right was for the judges. A "stadium" was originally a length measure of 600 feet (approx. 183 metres).

Apollon Temple in ancient Corinth — Corinth
Apollon Temple

The Palaestra in ancient Olympia in Greece — Olympia
The palaestra, dating from the 3rd century BC, was a wrestling school.

Temple of Hera in ancient Olympia in Greece — Olympia
Hera Temple.

Temple of Zeus in ancient Olympia in Greece — Olympia
Lion heads, once part of the Temple of Zeus.

Peirene Fountain in ancient Corinth — Ancient Corinth
The Peirene Fountain.

The Lechaion Road in ancient Corinth — Ancient Corinth
The Lechaion Road. In the background the mountain Acrocorinth.

workshop of artist Pheidias in ancient Olympia in Greece — Olympia
The workshop of the famous artist Pheidias. A paleochristian basilica was built later on the same site.

Delos Island

The holy island of Delos in the middle of the Cyclades is the birthplace of the gods Apollo and his twin sister Artemis and was an important trading centre for the Greeks in the Mediterranean.

Löwenterrasse auf der Insel Delos bei Nacht — Terrace of the lions
Over 2600 years old are the lions carved from Naxian marble that once guarded the sacred lake, the birthplace of Apollo.

antikes Theater auf der Insel Delos — Theatre of Delos

Prytaneion on the island of Delos — Prytaneion

Island of Delos, Community House of the Poseidonians — Community House of the Poseidonians

House of the Dioscuri and Cleopatra on the island of Delos — House of the Dioscuri and Cleopatra

Isis Temple on Delos island — Isis Temple

The Stoibadeion, the sanctuary of Dionysus with its phallic column, a symbol of Dionysus, on the island of Delos — Stoibadeion

Selinunte and Paestum

In the 8th and 7th centuries BC, Greek immigrants founded and settled new cities around the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Selinunte in Sicily and Paestum near Naples are two important cities of that time.

Antikes Paestum, der zweite Hera Tempel, der früher von Experten auch als Poseidontempel bezeichnet wurde. Dahinter befindet sich der erste Hera Tempel. — Paestum
The second temple of Hera, which was formerly also called the temple of Poseidon by experts. Behind it is the first temple of Hera.

Site of ancient Paestum - second temple of Hera — Paestum - second temple of Hera

Site of ancient Paestum. Temple of Athena, formerly known as the Temple of Ceres — Paestum - Temple of Athena

Site of ancient Paestum. First temple of Hera, in the background the second temple of Hera (formerly known as the Temple of Poseidon) — Paestum - first temple of Hera

Site of ancient Selinunte, Temple E — Selinunte - Temple E

Tempel E im antiken Selinunte — Selinunte
Temple E of ancient Selinunt.

Palace of Knossos

Europe’s first advanced civilisation arose in Knossos on Crete – around 4000 years ago. years ago. Its magnificent palaces go back to the mythical King Minos. The British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who excavated the seat of power at the beginning of the 20th century, was very much influenced by Art Nouveau in his imaginative reconstructions of the palace.

Bull, relief on the balcony at the north entrance, Palace of Knossos, Crete — Bull relief

Theatre of the Palace of Knossos, Crete — Theatre

Altan am Nordeingang, Palast von Knossos, Kreta — Altan am Nordeingang

Monumental staircase, Palace of Knossos — Monumental staircase

Queen’s Baths in the Palace of Knossos — Queen’s Baths

Pithos jars in the Palace of Knossos — Pithos jars

Samos

The Heraion on Samos marks the birthplace of Zeus’ wife Hera. The first temple, built in the 8th century BC, was destroyed by a flood, and several subsequent buildings fell victim to conquests. Only one column remains of the great temple of Hera, which Herodotus described as the most massive of its time.