Sounion was the southernmost tip of the region of Attica and a significant strategic spot for the city-state of Athens. From there, the Athenians were able to control the sea passage to the Aegean Sea and their central port Piraeus. There, they established sanctuaries for their two most important deities, Poseidon and Athena. Poseidon was the god of the sea, weather and earthquakes and horses. Athena was the goddess of strategy and wisdom. Sounion is located very close to the Lavrion Peninsula with its rich silver mines. Thanks to those mines, Athens became the leading power of the 5th century BC. At the area of the Cape, there were also remains of prehistoric habitation from the early Bronze Age, 3rd millennium BC.