Brauron Vrávron (Vráona)

Brauron, on the east coast of Attica 5.5km/3.5mi northeast of Markópoulo, was of importance in ancient times for its sanctuary of Artemis.

Excavated by Papadimitriou between 1948 and 1963 and excellently restored, it is now a most impressive and interesting site.

The site of Brauron was occupied from Neolithic times. Remains of Middle Helladic buildings (2000-1600 B.C.) were found on the acropolis and there was evidence of dense settlement in the Late Helladic (Mycenaean) period (1600-1100 B.C.). After a period of abandonment the site was resettled in the ninth century B.C. Brauron's heyday was in the fifth and fourth centuries, but after 300 B.C. the land became waterlogged and was again abandoned. The cult of Artemis Brauronia was taken from Brauron to the Acropolis of Athens in the sixth century by Peisistratos, a native of Brauron.

In Mycenaean times the goddess Artemis was known here as Artemis Iphigeneia; and according to Euripides Iphigeneia, daughter of king Agamemnon of Mycenae, was a priestess at Brauron after her return from the Tauric Chersonesos until her death. During the Classical period Athenian girls aged between five to 10 served in the sanctuary. They were known as "little bears" (arktoi) from the saffron-colored garments they wore, recalling a she-bear sacred to Artemis.