Hera Akraia

The sanctuary of Hera at Perachora has been one of the most important sanctuaries of the city state of Corinth and was also one of its oldest: already in the geometric period there existed a famous sanctuary of Hera Akraia. This so-called Heraion has been excavated close to a magnificent bay Vouliagmeni. A stone lighthouse offers a view over much of the gulf of Corinth. A special find from the Heraion is a terracotta model of a house from the early geometric period. Its reconstruction with a high roof has been of enormous importance for our knowledge of Greek architecture in the 8th century B.C. The oldest temple of Perachora (the Apsidal Temple) will have resembled this model closely. In the 6th century B.C. a larger Doric temple was erected immediately west of the the older temple. The sanctuary ceased to function after the destruction of Corinth in 148 B.C. by the Roman general Mummius and was never rebuilt. In Roman times houses and farmsteads were built on the remains of the sanctuary. A 5th century A.D. kiln lies in the centre of the great temple. It was used to reduce the marble blocks of the temple to chalk, used for the erection of the 5th century defensive wall over the Isthmus. An L-shaped stoa and a courtyard (West Court) complete the site. A large ancient cistern lies to the east of the modern church. To the south of it lie the remains of  a dining hall (probably for religious meals). A second sanctuary (for Hera Limenia) lies to the east of the dining hall. Little remains of its temple. A large fountain-house is found some 600  metre to the east of this site.

 

Photo’s f.l.t.r. Overview of the sanctuary of Hera Akraia, part of the L-shaped stoa and the remains of the 6th century temple. Above right the large apsidal cistern and the geometric house model. Below the remains of the dining-hall and  the fountain-house.