A temple (from the Latin templum) is a structure built for the purposes of honoring a god or the sacred spirit of a certain place.

What was the first temple in the world?

The first temple in the world is Gobekli Tepe in modern-day Turkey which is 11,500 years old.

Did all ancient civilizations have temples?

All ancient civilizations had temples which served essentially the same purpose even though the architecture and rites performed differed.

What is the largest and most famous temple in the world?

The largest and most famous temple in the world is Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Temple Timeline

Definition

A temple (from the Latin templum) is a structure usually built for the purpose of, and always dedicated to, religious or spiritual activities including prayer, meditation, sacrifice and worship. The templum was a sacred precinct defined by a priest (or augur) as the dwelling place of a god or gods.

More about: Temple

Timeline

c. 12000 BCE
Construction of Gobekli Tepe Temple, oldest temple in the world.
c. 4500 BCE
The Sumerians built their first temple.
c. 3500 BCE
Ness of Brodgar in use as religious site in Orkney, Scotland.
950 BCE
Solomon builds the first Temple of Jerusalem.
c. 800 BCE
The site of Delphi first acquires a religious significance.
c. 700 BCE
The temple of Apollo is built on the island of Delos.
c. 700 BCE
Sanctuary of Poseidon built at Isthmia.
650 BCE - 600 BCE
Heraion, temple dedicated to Hera built at Olympia.
c. 650 BCE
The first temple in honour of Apollo is built at Delphi.
570 BCE - 530 BCE
The Doric Temple of Hera is built at Metapontum, Magna Graecia.
c. 550 BCE
The temple of Apollo is constructed at Corinth.
c. 550 BCE
The Temple of Hera I is built at Paestum.
c. 510 BCE
The Etruscan Portonaccio Temple is constructed at Veii.
c. 510 BCE
The Temple of Athena is built at Paestum.
c. 510 BCE
The temple of Hercules is built at Agrigento.
c. 510 BCE
The second temple to Apollo is constructed at Delphi, replacing the first temple destroyed by fire.
484 BCE
The first temple of the Dioscuri (Castor & Pollux) is dedicated in Rome's Forum Romanum by Aulus Postumius following his victory over the Latins at the Battle of Lake Regillus.
c. 480 BCE
The huge temple of Zeus is built at Agrigento.
478 BCE
Temple of Confucius built at Qufu, China.
c. 460 BCE - 457 BCE
Temple of Zeus is built at Olympia with a statue of Apollo dominating the west pediment and containing the cult statue of Zeus by Phidias.
c. 460 BCE
The temple of Hera II is built at Paestum.
450 BCE - 430 BCE
The Temple of Concordia is built at Agrigento.
449 BCE
The Hephaisteion, temple to Athena & Hephaistos, built in Athens.
447 BCE - 432 BCE
The construction of the Parthenon in Athens by the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates under the direction of Phidias.
c. 444 BCE - 440 BCE
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion re-built.
c. 430 BCE
The cult statue of Zeus by Phidias is dedicated in the Temple of Zeus, Olympia. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
c. 425 BCE - c. 420 BCE
The Temple dedicated to Athena Nike is constructed on the acropolis of Athens.
421 BCE - 406 BCE
The Erechtheion of Athens acropolis is constructed with six Caryatids in the south porch.
c. 420 BCE - c. 400 BCE
The Temple of Apollo is built at Bassae.
c. 417 BCE
The Doric temple of Segesta is built.
c. 380 BCE - c. 375 BCE
Temple to Asclepius constructed at Epidaurus.
342 BCE
Fire destroys the 6th century BCE temple to Athena at Lindos, Rhodes and is replaced by a new one.
c. 330 BCE
Temple of Zeus built at Nemea.
c. 330 BCE
The third temple to Apollo is constructed at Delphi, replacing the earlier temple damaged by earthquake.
c. 320 BCE
Temple dedicated to Aphrodite constructed at Epidaurus.
c. 301 BCE - c. 320 BCE
Doric temple to Athena and fortifications of Lysimachus built at Troy.
225 BCE - 150 BCE
The Temple of Hercules is built at Ostia.
c. 1 CE - c. 100 CE
Construction of the temple of Jupiter Baal by the Romans at Baalbek.
c. 14 CE
The Temple of Rome and Augustus is built at Ostia.
650 CE - 1025 CE
The Buddhist temple at Borobudur, Java is built during the rule of the Sailendra Dynasty.
c. 1010 CE - c. 1025 CE
The Brihadishvara Temple is built at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.
c. 1025 CE - 1000 CE
The Kandariya Mahadeo temple, dedicated to Shiva, is built at Khajuraho.
1122 CE
Construction begins of the Hindu temple at Angkor Wat.