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The Temple was built between 420-400 B.C. by Iktinos, the architect of Parthenon. It is situated at a distance of 7 kilometers north of the city of Figalia and 14 kilometers from Andritsena, in the barren and rocky landscape of Bassae, at an altitude of 1,13 m. The cult of Apollo at Bassae dates back to the end of the 8^th century and the beginning of the 7^th .The Temple was dedicated to Apollo by the inhabitants of Filagia. The god is also referred as Epicurius (he who offers aid) as, according to the legend; he aided the inhabitants of Filagia in their war against the Spartans in 659 B.C. According to another version, the god hindered the spread of the plague in the area during the Peloponnesian war. The temple, which was built of local limestone, is the best preserved ancient temple after that of Hephaestus in Theseio.

The temples' dimensions are 38.24 m. x 14.48 m. and it is surrounded by peristyle (a columned porch or open colonnade). The Temple's frieze consists of 32 marble slates, which are now found in the British Museum. The Temple of Apollo Epicurius has been nominated by UNESCO as World Heritage Site and at the moment there is in progress a major conservation project by the Greek Government.

It is the first almost completely maintained temple that combines all the three rhythms of the ancient Greek architecture: Ionian, Doric and Corinthian.  It is built on a rock that has the ancient name Bassai, which means small valley on the rocks. Iktinus was able to blend many archaic characteristics with contemporary ones of the classical period. Contrary to the usual orientation of East - West, the temple of Apollo Epicurius is oriented North- South, something that may has to do with the Arcadian religious tradition. One of the Temple columns has the oldest Corinthian rhythm. According to Pausanias, the adytum hosted a huge bronze statue of Apollo. The main decoration of the temple was a marble Ionian frieze measuring 31 m. and comprising 23 marble tablets, 12 of which depicted the war against the Amazons and the rest the war against the Centaurs.