This is a companion guide to the interactive 3D virtual tour: Temple of Apollo. You can click here (Opens in new tab) to begin the tour.
Story outline
Each stop is a location within the virtual tour. Use the "Explore in 3D" button to jump straight to any stop.
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Exploring Ancient Greece
Explore in 3D: Exploring Ancient Greece (Opens in new tab)This map shows the island of Naxos within the Aegean Sea, where sea routes connected mainland Greece, nearby islands, and the wider Mediterranean world.
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Stop 1. Where Naxos Meets the Sea
Explore in 3D: Stop 1. Where Naxos Meets the Sea (Opens in new tab)Rising above Palatia is Portara, a monumental marble doorway that was part of an unfinished temple. Visible from the sea, it symbolizes Naxos’s ancient link to Apollo and maritime pilgrimage.
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Stop 2. A Temple Left Unfinished
Explore in 3D: Stop 2. A Temple Left Unfinished (Opens in new tab)The Portara is the towering remnant of an unfinished 6th-century BCE temple. Rising to over 6 meters, the magnificent marble doorway glitters in the sun.
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Stop 3. Myth on the Shoreline
Explore in 3D: Stop 3. Myth on the Shoreline (Opens in new tab)The dramatic setting also lends itself to the myths of the island. This place is connected to Ariadne, a young princess who helped the hero Theseus defeat the Minotaur and escape the Labyrinth. According to myth, Theseus later abandoned her on Naxos, where she was discovered by Dionysus, the god of wine, celebration, and transformation.
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Stop 4. Stone from the Island
Explore in 3D: Stop 4. Stone from the Island (Opens in new tab)Naxos was famous in antiquity for its high-quality marble, a bright local stone used for sculpture, temples, and monuments like the Portara. Naxian marble is distinctive for its bright, crystalline, slightly translucent appearance, which makes it catch and reflect light beautifully.
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Stop 5. An Enduring Symbol
Explore in 3D: Stop 5. An Enduring Symbol (Opens in new tab)Today, the monument is protected by the people of Naxos and by the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, helping ensure that this ancient landmark is preserved for future generations.
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Partners
About the Project
In 2016, CyArk documented the Temple of Apollo on the island of Naxos in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades. The project captured the monument in detailed 3D, creating a digital record of one of Naxos’s most recognizable landmarks.
Nearly a decade later, we are excited to bring this historic dataset to Tapestry. Through the surviving architecture of the temple, and especially its monumental marble doorway, this experience explores the story of the site, its construction, and the enduring presence of this unfinished ancient monument in the landscape of Naxos.
Related Links
Credits
Special thanks to the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, Ministry of Culture of Greece.
