Little is known about the life of Iktinos, most contemporary information being based on the writings of Plutarch.

The most complete surviving example of Iktinos's work is the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, which has been preserved almost intact as a result of having been a Christian Church. It is a Doric temple.

Iktinos is also believed to have designed the temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, the first known use of a Corinthian column, and also the Telesterion shrine of Eleusis.

The artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres painted a scene showing Iktinos together with the lyric poet Pindar - the painting is known as Pindar and Ictinus and is exhibited at the National Gallery, London.

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