The Doric temple was built in the mid-5th century BC on the ruins of an earlier temple that was still under construction when the Persians invaded the Athenian city-state and destroyed it, along with other sanctuaries. It stands at the highest point of the cape, at the center of the sanctuary, which was enclosed by a built wall on the landward side. The temple’s frieze depicted scenes of the Centauromachy and the Gigantomachy, symbolizing the Athenians’ victory over the Persians. Some of the relief slabs are now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Lavrio.