The Temple of the Winds, Athens

‎A little east of the Temple of Theseus, a building of classic antiquity, stands the Temple of the Winds. It is a small octagonal building, in good preservation. Upon its eight faces are that many emblematic figures, representing the various winds which are most frequent in Attica. According to tradition, Socrates used to take his stand on the site of this temple to instruct the rising youth of Athens. The temple was built during the last century before the Christian era. It is about twenty-six feet in diameter and forty-two feet in height. Boreas, an old man with a cloak, is on the north side; Kaekias, an old man, shakes hailstones out of a shield on the northeast side; Apeliotes, a young man, with fruit and corn, is on the east; Euros, an old man, mantled, is in the southeast; Notos is a young man, with a vessel for water, on the south; Lips, with a part of a ship in his hand, is on the southwest; Zephyr, a young man, drops flowers from the folds of his garments on the west; while on the northwest is Skiron holding a vase. The conception of the whole, as well as the execution, is exquisitely beautiful. The fabric was surmounted by a Triton movable upon a pivot to indicate the direction of the wind. It served also as a sun-dial. Many persons still regulate their time by it. Altogether, this structure is one of the most curious and interesting remains of ancient Athens. In the picture, we are looking toward the south.