Temple of Aphrodite dates back to the 3rd century BCE, and was built to honor Aphrodite, the mythological Greek goddess of love and beauty. The temple is located in Symi Square, close to the Eleftheria Gate.
The once majestic structure is now a pile of ruins surrounded by a small fence. Although you cannot walk through the temple grounds, you can get close enough to study some of the old building blocks and fallen columns. Look closely and you may be able to make out some inscriptions on a couple of the stone slabs.
Read the information panel and study the site plan to get a feel for the temple’s layout. Descriptions are written in Greek and English. The statue of Aphrodite Pudica in the Archeological Museum of Rhodes is believed to have been the temple statue that would have been venerated here by the ancient Greeks.
The Temple of Aphrodite is a 10-minute walk from the island’s Tourist Harbour. If you are arriving by car or scooter, you will find limited free parking at Symi Square. Additional parking is available on the road that leads to the harbor.
References:The Broch of Clickimin is a large and well preserved, though somewhat restored broch near Lerwick. Originally built on an island in Clickimin Loch (now increased in size by silting and drainage), it was approached by a stone causeway. The water-level in the loch was reduced in 1874, leaving the broch high and dry. The broch is situated within a walled enclosure and, unusually for brochs, features a large 'blockhouse' between the opening in the enclosure and the broch itself. Another unusual feature is a stone slab featuring sculptured footprints, located in the causeway which approached the site. Situated across the loch is the Clickimin Leisure Centre.