Temple of Poseidon, Greece

The new lighting of the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion breathes life into the monument, honoring its timeless presence and respecting its historical significance. The Temple of Poseidon is located on the cliffs of Cape Sounion and it is mainly visible from the northwest direction as one approaches from the coastal road and from the surrounding sea. This characteristic determined our lighting design as it was crucial the light intensity to be at a relatively “higher” level in order to be seen from such a distance. Warmer tones of white light (2700K) are chosen to embrace the fortification wall, while cooler white light (3600K) illuminates the columns of the temple from the outside and warmer in the inside. The base of the temple is lit by neutral temperature (3000K). In this way, the Fortification Wall, the sanctuary and the base are distinguished even from a distance. An astronomical clock is used for the illumination and light goes on as the sun sets, while at sunrise it turns off. The lighting fixtures were chosen for their characteristics as well as their size and shape in order to be well integrated into the landscape so that day visitors are not distracted. Compared to the preexisting electrical system which lit only few columns, not the walls or the base, our lighting gave a more complete night view of the monument . The lighting system is energy-efficient aligning with contemporary sustainability practices. Specifically, it includes 38 lights, totaling 1740W. Our approach prioritizes minimal environmental impact and is in accordance with the archaeological rules and restrictions for such monuments. Moreover the luminaires are placed with care so as not to touch the monument while cabling is hidden as much as possible so not to disturb the daytime view of the archaeological site.