Listed 11 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for destination: "HERAION Ancient sanctuary LOUTRAKI-PERACHORA".
Region: Corinthia
Periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic
Type: Sanctuary
Summary: Sanctuary of Hera.
Physical Description:
Located on a large promontory at E end of Corinthian Gulf,
N of the Isthmus and opposite ancient Corinth, near the fortified town of Peraion.
Two sacred precincts existed: Hera Limenia above the harbor with an 8th century
B.C. temple and Hera Akraia by the harbor with a 6th century B.C. temple. House
remains, cisterns, an agora and stoa were part of the settlement around the sanctuaries.
There may have been an oracle at the sanctuaries.
Description:
Perhaps due to the scarcity of fresh water, there was no
settlement and only occasional habitation on the Perachora promontory prior to
the Geometric period when the territory (originally belonging to Megara) came
under Corinthian control. It was strategically important that Corinth control
the Perachora because it could serve an enemy as a strong base near the Isthmus
and Corinth and because it provided an ideal observation point for ship movement
in the whole W part of the Corinthian Gulf. The 1st temple and precinct of Hera
Akraia was established by the Corinthians on the W tip of the promontory early
in the Geometric period. There is strong indication that Argos also played a role
in the foundation of this new Heraion. In the later Geometric period (2nd half
of the 8th century B.C.), a 2nd temple and precinct, the so-called Hera Limenia,
was built ca. 200 m E and up the valley from the 1st precinct. The 2nd enclosure
may have been a separate sanctuary dedicated to Hera Limenia, or it may have been
an extension or annex to the precinct of Hera Akraia. In the latter case the 2nd
(8th century) temple may have replaced the original temple at the shore or it
may have been a treasury or structure to house the ever accumulating votive offerings
of Hera rather than an actual temple. The original sacred precinct of Hera Akraia
is in a confined space hemmed in by sea and cliffs and a large number of offerings
and votive gifts were brought into the sanctuary during the 8th century B.C. An
annex to the popular sanctuary of Hera Akraia appears more logical than the construction
of a new and competitive sanctuary of Hera. After the establishment of the Hera
Limenia precinct the original shore side precinct of Hera Akraia was renovated
and a new temple of Hera built in the 6th century B.C. From the 8th century through
the Classical period, votive gifts and offerings continue to enrich both precincts.
In the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. Corinth became more independent from Argos and
began to send out colonists and traders to the W. The Hera sanctuary was the last
point of Corinthian territory that colonists would pass and the first point that
returning merchants would reach and this undoubtedly accounted for many offerings
to secure or give thanks for safe voyages and enterprises. The Classical period
brought another phase of building activity at the sanctuary. The area of the Hera
Akraia precinct was remodeled and a stoa and agora were added. The approach to
the Hera Limenia precinct and part of that temenos were also remodeled. There
had been habitations and fortifications built in the neighborhood of the sanctuary
as early as the original Geometric period foundations and additional buildings
of this nature appear in the Classical period. The Heraion was still important
and active in the Hellenistic period and new buildings and cisterns appear in
the neighborhood. The sanctuary, however, had been completely abandoned after
the Roman sack of 146 B.C. and Roman houses were built over its ruins.
Exploration:
Excavations: 1930-33, H. Payne, British School of Archaeology.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 22 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Temple
Summary: Narrow rectangular temple; in the harbor area, northeast
of the West Court, west of the Triglyph Altar of Hera Akraia and the Geometric
Temple of Hera Akraia.
Date: ca. 550 B.C.
Period: Archaic
Plan:
Long narrow cella opening west with walls on the north and south.
History:
A more complete reconstruction, not illustrated here, suggests that the cella
opened onto a pronaos, with 2 Doric columns distyle in antis. On the interior,
Doric colonnades on the 2 low walls and a cross wall in front of the cult statue
at the western end.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Peribolos Wall
Summary: Walled group of buildings; east of the harbor and the Hestiatorion.
Date: ca. 750 B.C.
Period: Geometric
Plan:
Rectangular enclosure, with a temple and hearth on south east corner. A sacred
pool outside the enclosure.
History:
Named from inscriptions found within the sanctuary. There is some debate if this
was a separate sanctuary from that of Hera Akraia. Inscriptions dedicating spits
were found here and other features indicate this may have been a dining facility.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 2 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Temple
Summary: Geometric temple; near the harbor, at the north end of
the Triglyph Altar of Hera Akraia.
Date: ca. 820 B.C.
Period: Geometric
Plan:
Hairpin-shaped temple opening east.
History:
Probably in use until ca. 725 B.C. A later, 6th century B.C. Temple of Hera Akraia
was constructed farther west on approximately the same axis as the Geometric temple.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Altar
Summary: Altar with a colonnade; in the harbor area, west of the
L-shaped stoa near the harbor, and abutting the Geometric Temple of Hera Akraia.
Date: ca. 550 B.C.
Period: Archaic
Plan:
Rectangular altar surrounded by 8 Ionic columns.
History:
The altar is named for the triglyphs and metopes which decorated its sides. The
Ionic columns possibly supported a canopy. The altar is contemporary with the
6th century B.C. Temple of Hera Akraia, but the colonnade was probably added ca.
400 B.C.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Stoa
Summary: L-shaped stoa; northeast of the harbor, just east of the
Triglyph Altar of Hera Akraia in the Sanctuary of Hera.
Date: ca. 325 B.C. - 300 B.C.
Period: Hellenistic
Plan:
Two-storied, one-aisled stoa opening to the south and west. Doric, lower colonnade
of 10 columns, and an Ionic upper colonnade of attached half columns.
History:
The upper story of Ionic columns is the earliest known use of Ionic order over
the Doric order in a stoa.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Court
Summary: Open area with colonnade; on the west side of the harbor.
Date: ca. 540 B.C.
Period: Archaic
Plan:
Irregular shape enclosed by a wall opening east. A bench ran along the west, south
and southeast sides, with pillars for roofing on the west and southern sides.
History:
Ca. 540 B.C., the earliest wall cuttings probably defined the extent of the Sanctuary
of Hera Akraia. The west wall and a wooden colonnade were added ca. 450 B.C. The
ca. 450 B.C. West Court is described above in the Plan description. It was probably
destroyed by Mummius in 146 B.C. In the 2nd century A.D. a Roman house was built
on the same location.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 4 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Cistern
Summary: Circular structure; northeast of the harbor area, between
the Sanctuary of Hera Limenia and the upper plains.
Date: ca. 450 B.C.
Period: Classical
Plan:
Circular foundation with small cutting near the center.
History:
Waterproof plaster indicates that this may have been a cistern. The floor slopes
toward the center cutting which may have been a drain. There are no signs of internal
supports and it may have been unroofed.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 2 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Dining facility
Summary: Three-roomed building; east of the harbor, west of the
Sanctuary of Hera Limenia, just south of the Double-apsidal Cistern.
Date: ca. 300 B.C.
Period: Hellenistic
Plan:
Nearly square, three-roomed building opening north. On the south, 2 square rooms
each equipped with 11 dining couches and 7 tables, opening on their north sides
onto a narrow vestibule.
History:
Excavation indicates that there was an earlier building on the same location.
The Double-apsidal Cistern was contemporary and probably built as part of the
Hestiatorion.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 1 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Cistern
Summary: Oval water tank; east of the harbor, west of the Sanctuary
of Hera Limenia, just north of the Hestiatorion.
Date: ca. 420 B.C.
Period: Classical
Plan:
Long cistern with apses at either end having 10 piers. Steps on the west. On the
east a separate apsidal settling tank with a circular basin, fed by a large channel
or drain.
History:
The stone slab drain which fed the cistern drew rain water from the Sanctuary
of Hera Limenia, and begins at the site of a sacred pool in the sanctuary. The
steps at the western end of the cistern indicate that water was drawn there to
serve the needs of the Hestiatorion. The Double-apsidal Cistern was contemporary
with, and probably built as a feature of the Hestiatorion.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 2 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Perachora
Type: Fountainhouse
Summary: Columned fountainhouse with long narrow storage chambers;
on the upper plains of the Perachora peninsula, northeast of the harbor.
Date: ca. 325 B.C.
Period: Hellenistic
Plan:
Ionic Hexastyle prostyle fountainhouse opening west. Three rectangular draw basins
on the east divided by a wall from the narrow storage chambers extending east.
History:
The site was in use from the 7th century B.C. onwards, but the fountainhouse dates
from the end of the 4th century B.C., when much of the Sanctuary of Hera was rebuilt.
The storage chambers received water from a channel at the southeastern corner.
Water then flowed into the south chamber and on to the draw basins and the center
and northern chambers.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 3 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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