The Heraion is located seven kilometers southwest of the old town of Samos (Pythagoreio today), at the point where land and the Aegean sea meet. It is one of the most important and architecturally daring sanctuaries of ancient Greece.
The temple was built here because locals believed Hera was born and raised at this spot.
The Rise and Fall of a “Stone Forest”
The structures that you see now give you just a glimpse of how great a structure used to stand there. In fact, the Heraion is said to be the largest temple built by the ancient Greeks. The initial design of this temple had been created by the celebrated local architects Rhoikos and Theodoros. However, it was destroyed by an earthquake.
The outcome was an incredible, twin-column structure. There were three rows of large pillars on both sides making it a real “forest of stone” which enveloped the interior rooms with beautifully designed walls. Of the many giant columns, which stood strong carrying the burden of the structure in about 500 BC, only one broken pillar remains standing in the north-eastern end of the structure.
A Sacred Reflection of Samos’ Power
While places such as Delphi and Olympia served as panhellenic sanctuaries that welcomed all Greeks, the Heraion was different. Unlike Delphi and Olympia, it belonged solely to Samos. So the temple’s fate depended directly on what was happening in the city.
The rise and fall of Samos meant the development and decline of the sanctuary, respectively. When visiting the area now, one is almost bound to notice the reuse of the stone fragments of the older temple after the earthquake.
Visitor Info
- Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 08:30 to 15:00.
- Tickets: €3 regular/€2 reduced.