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Why do the columns of the Temple of Hera show different styles?
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Olympia
Olympia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989.
The columns of the Temple of Hera at Olympia exhibit a great variety of styles because they were originally constructed of wood and were gradually replaced with stone over time.1
As the temple underwent repairs and renovations across different periods, the wooden columns were replaced individually, leading to a mix of styles that reflected the evolving architectural practices of the eras in which the replacements occurred. This process was so gradual that as late as the 2nd century CE, one original wooden column still remained in the opisthodomos (rear porch) of the structure.1