Piraeus Port / Shore Excursion: Cape Sounio

27 Nov Piraeus Port / Shore Excursion: Cape Sounio

From/To: Piraeus Port

Duration: 4½ – 5 hours 

Tour Description

Drive along the coastal road, past the wonderful beaches of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, towards Cape Sounion. According to legend, Cape Sounion is the spot where Aegeus, king of Athens, leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea. The story goes that Aegeus, anxiously looking out from Sounion, despaired when he saw a black sail on his son Theseus’s ship, returning from Crete. This led him to believe that his son had been killed in his contest with the dreaded Minotaur in Crete.

Cape Sounion is also noted as the site of an ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek classical mythology. In a maritime country like Greece, the god of the sea was bound to occupy a high position in the divine hierarchy (in power, Poseidon was considered second only to Zeus). The temple at Cape Sounion, constructed in 444-440 BC, therefore, was a venue where mariners, and also entire cities or states, could propitiate Poseidon, by making animal sacrifice, or leaving gifts. Upon finishing the visit, drive back to Athens and the port of Piraeus, to embark the cruise ship.