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:Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.