Listed 1 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for destination: "IREON Ancient sanctuary ARGOS - MYKINES".
Region: Argolid
Periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman
Type: Sanctuary
Summary: The main sanctuary to Hera in the Argive territory.
Physical Description:
The Heraion is located approximately equidistant from Argos
and Mycenae, in an area referred to by Pausanias as Prosymna. The sanctuary occupies
3 artificial terraces below Mt. Euboea and has a commanding view of the Argive
plain. The upper terrace, supported by a retaining wall of possible late Geometric
date, is a level paved area occupied by the Old Temple and an altar. The later,
middle terrace supports the New Temple, where a chryselephantine statue of Hera
by Polykleitos was housed. Other structures located on this terrace included one
of the earliest examples of a building with a peristyle court, which may have
served as a banquet hall. On the lowest terrace is a stoa and an Archaic step-like
retaining wall. To the W are Roman baths and palaestra.
Description:
Although tradition states that Agamemnon was elected at
the Heraion to lead the Trojan expedition, the earliest finds at the cult area
date to the Geometric period. The sanctuary grew and expended during the Archaic
and Classical period and most of the remains (with the exception of the Roman
baths and palaestra) date to the 7th through 5th centuries B.C. The sanctuary
continued in importance through the Roman period.
Exploration:
Discovered 1831 by T. Gordon. Minor excavations: Gordon
(1836), Rangabe and Bursian (1854), Schliemann (1874), Stamatakis (1878) and Caskey
and Amandry 1949. Major excavations: American School of Classical Studies; C.
Waldstein 1892-1895, C. Blegen 1925-1928.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 77 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Receive our daily Newsletter with all the latest updates on the Greek Travel industry.
Subscribe now!
