The temple of Athena, as well as the adjacent temple of Apollo, were demolished in Byzantine times. In the north of the two temples a basilica measuring 50 x 50 meters was built. The area of the temples was transformed into the atrium of the basilica. Only in recent years has the area of the temple of Athena been excavated and archaeologically examined.

Athena or Athene (honorary title: Pallas Athene) is a goddess of Greek mythology. She is the goddess of wisdom, strategy and struggle, of art, craftsmanship and handicraft, as well as the patron goddess and eponym of the Greek city of Athens. She belongs to the twelve Olympic deities, the Olympioi. The Roman goddess Minerva corresponds to her.

According to the oldest and most widespread myth version of the descent and birth of Athena, she was a daughter of Zeus and Metis. Zeus had devoured Metis, who was pregnant with two children, because Uranos and Gaia had prophesied to him that a daughter would be Zeus' equal, but a son would overthrow him. When he suffered from great headaches afterwards, Hephaistos broke his head (which he survived as father of the gods) at Zeus' command.
Athena arose from this in full armour. She was therefore regarded as an embodiment of the spirit (since from the head of Zeus = head birth; see name derivation) and thus of wisdom and intelligence.