Bassae

The speaker was intrigued by the fact that, after the grandeur of the Parthenon, an older individual had dedicated himself to a much smaller temple—one without white marble or any of the usual features. While all Greek temples are typically dedicated to deities such as Apollo, this particular temple was not dedicated to anyone and was located in an area where no city had ever existed, in a kind of wasteland, in a ditch. Yet, by ascending just slightly—placing one in the center of the Peloponnese—on a clear day, one could see the sea to the left and right. The speaker returned to the temple at Bassae at least six, seven, or eight times, as though seeking to think or find themselves. There, they made a short 10-minute film and were fortunate to experience two days of clouds and mist filtering through the columns.