Perahora Attractions Perakhóra

The ancient shrine of Hera at Perakhóra lies on the shores of a sharply pointed peninsula between the Halcyonic Gulf and the Gulf of Corinth. The road from Corinth, running northwest via Loutráki, passes (on the right) the village of Perakhóra, which was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1981, skirts a lake (bathing beach, taverna) and ends near a lighthouse (20 km/12.5 mi). Below, to the left, is the little bay with the remains of the ancient sanctuary; straight ahead, on the south side of the gulf, is the prominent bulk of Acrocorinth. It is well worth while making the trip to Perakhóra both for the historical importance of the scanty remains, dating from the early period of Greek temple-building, and for the magnificent setting; and there is, too, the additional attraction of a swim in the ancient harbor.

In the Mycenaean period the sanctuary belonged to Megara, later to Corinth. The oracle here, sacred to the goddess Hera, flourished particularly in the Geometric period (ninth and eighth C.), although nothing is known of the cult practices. In 390 the sanctuary was seized by the Spartan Agesilaos. During the Roman period the site was abandoned. It was excavated by British archeologists in 1930-33.