Heraion of Samos

The Heraion of Samos is one of the most important ancient sanctuaries in the Greek world and was dedicated to the goddess Hera, who, according to myth, was born there. The site was a place of worship throughout antiquity and housed one of the largest temples of its time, considered an architectural model of the Hellenistic period. The Temple of Hera, built in successive phases from the 8th to the 6th century BC, included 155 gigantic columns. Today a single column survives to half its original height, recalling the building’s scale and grandeur, which Herodotus called “the greatest and most imposing temple in Greece of his time.” The sanctuary was connected to the ancient city by the Sacred Way, along which impressive dedications have been found and are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Samos. The Temple of Hera and the wider Pythagoreio area have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.