Bassae (Latin) or Bassai, Vassai or Vasses (Greek, Modern: Βασσές, Ancient: Βασσαί) is an archaeological site at the southeastern end of the Ilia Prefecture that was a part of Arcadia in ancient times, south of Andritsaina, west of Megalopolis and east of Figaleia. It is famous for the well-preserved mid-5th century BC temple of Apollo Epikourios (helper).

The magnificent tample of Apollo Epikourios sits at 1,150 m above sea level. The writer Pausanias placed its construction between 450 and 420 BC. The temple featured Corinthian and Ionian columns, combined with Doric columns. The columns were lined in 15 by 6 rows totalling 38 rows and the temple faced almost directly north. The middle of the temple featured a pro-naos at the top and the opisthodomos at the bottom. The architect was Iktinos, architect of Parthenon.

The site was excavated in 1836 by the Russian scholars under Carlo Brullo. Perhaps the most striking discovery was the oldest Corinthian capital yet found. Some part of the artifacts are on display at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. Today the temple's Metopes are in the British Museum, next to Elgin Marbles. Bassae was the first Greek site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List (1986). The temple of Apollo is presently covered in white tent with five rows in order to protect the ruins from rain and snow. A reconstruction of the temple many be seen inside the tent.

Notes

1. "The Colossal figure. Fragments of an over life-size marble statue were found in the rear space of the main room. The form of the sandals and the manner in which the hands and feet were added onto the figure indicate a Hellenistic date, perhaps 150-100 BCE. The way that the feet were divided into sections suggests that the figure was draped, or at least partially draped, with the left foot set further beyond the fall of the material than the right, while the struts between the fingers on the left hand indicate that it held something, perhaps a bow or a laurel branch, if the figure was, as seems likely, Apollo" British Museum notice.
2. "Fragments of the metopes were found at both ends of the temple. They come from a Doric frieze of triglyphs and metopes over the two porches within the colonnade. The subject matter of the twelve metopes is uncertain. Among the many smaller fragments there are glimpses of women dancing or moving rapidly, a seated old man and other male figures." This fragment is a "Head of an Amazon". British Museum notice.

External link

• Excavation of the Temple

Archaeological sites in Greece | Ancient Greek cities | Elis | World Heritage Sites in Greece

Apollontempel bei Bassae | Bassae | Bassai