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.
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.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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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.
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.
Things to See
Brauron Archaeological Museum
The Brauron Museum contains finds from the site:
Rooms 1-3: Material from the sanctuary of Artemis.
Room 5: Pottery found on the acropolis, of Early to Late Helladic date (third millennium to 1100 B.C.); pottery from Anávyssos and the Peráti necropolis.
Atrium and Room 4: Material from the Merénda necropolis (vases of the ninth-fourth century B.C.).
Rooms 1-3: Material from the sanctuary of Artemis.
Room 5: Pottery found on the acropolis, of Early to Late Helladic date (third millennium to 1100 B.C.); pottery from Anávyssos and the Peráti necropolis.
Atrium and Room 4: Material from the Merénda necropolis (vases of the ninth-fourth century B.C.).
Courtyard
The Brauron courtyard, surrounded on three sides by colonnades, was built between 430 and 420 B.C. The entrance is on the west side, where there is an ancient stone bridge. The Doric columns of the colonnades, of limestone, had marble capitals. Six rooms in the north wing and three in the west wing each contained 11 wooden beds for the "little bears".
Early Byzantine Church
Some 500m/540yd inland at Brauron are the excavated remains of an early Byzantine church (sixth century), a three-aisled basilica with a narthex and exonarthex. The east end, separated from the rest of the church by a screen, is closed by an apse, in which the semicircular seating for the officiating clergy (synthronon) can still be seen. At the east end of the south aisle is a small chapel, also with an apse. At the east end of this aisle is a doorway leading into the circular baptistery.
The basilica was evidently destroyed after a relatively short period of existence. Thereafter a small chapel, of which some remains survive, was built in the center of the nave.
The basilica was evidently destroyed after a relatively short period of existence. Thereafter a small chapel, of which some remains survive, was built in the center of the nave.
Museum
The Museum at the Temple of Artemis contains finds from the site. Rooms one to three have material from the sanctuary of Artemis, Room five has pottery from the acropolis (Early to Late Helladic). Room four and the Atrium also display material from the Merénda necropolis (vases of the ninth-fourth century BC., funerary stelae). Room five has pottery from Anávyssos and the Peráti necropolis.
St George / Iphigenia Cave
On the slopes of a hill, near a 12th century chapel of St George, is a small shrine, beyond which are the Cave of Iphigeneia (now roofless) and a "sacred house".
Temple of Artemis
To the north of the Cave of Iphigeneia are the rock-cut footings of the temple of Artemi which replaced an earlier building in the first half of the fifth century B.C. Beyond this is a stoa built round three sides of a courtyard (430-420 B.C.), with the entrance on the west side, where there is an ancient bridge. The Doric columns of the stoa, which were of limestone, had marble capitals. Six rooms in the north wing and three in the west wing each contained eleven wooden beds for the "little bears".
Hours
April 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
November 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Greek National Day (March 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Greek National Day (March 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
