Heraion of Argos

Heraion of Argos
Ἡραῖον Ἄργους
Heraion of Argos, reconstruction on a 1902 painting
Heraion of Argos is located in Greece
Heraion of Argos
Shown within Greece
LocationArgolis, Greece
RegionArgolis
Coordinates37°41′31″N 22°46′29″E / 37.69194°N 22.77472°E / 37.69194; 22.77472
TypeSanctuary
Site notes
Management4th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
Public accessYes
WebsiteHellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism
View from the Heraion of Argos into the Inachos plain.

The Heraion of Argos (Greek: Ἡραῖον Ἄργους) is an ancient temple in Argos, Greece. It was part of the greatest sanctuary in the Argolid, dedicated to Hera, whose epithet "Argive Hera" (Ἥρη Ἀργείη Here Argeie) appears in Homer's works. Hera herself claims to be the protector of Argos in Iliad IV, 50–52): "The three towns I love best are Argos, Sparta and Mycenae of the broad streets". The memory was preserved at Argos of an archaic, aniconic pillar representation of the Great Goddess.[1] The site, which might mark the introduction of the cult of Hera in mainland Greece, lies northeast of Argos between the archaeological sites of Mycenae and Midea,[2] two important Mycenaean cities. The traveller Pausanias, visiting the site in the 2nd century CE, referred to the area as Prosymna (Προσύμνη).

  1. ^ Burkert, Greek Religion (1985) III.2.2, note 5.
  2. ^ It is closer to Mycenae, 10 km from Argos.