Olympia - Heraion

North of the temple of Zeus at Olympia was the supposed tomb of Pelops, the Pelopion (foundations of propylon preserved). Beyond this, parallel to the temple of Zeus, is the oldest temple of Olympia, the Heraion (ca. 600 B.C.). This Doric temple of Hera had 6 x 16 columns 5.2m/17ft high, four of which have been re-erected. The shafts and capitals of the columns show considerable variety, since the original wooden columns were replaced by stone columns at different times as the need arose, so that the luxuriant Archaic types of echinus can be seen side by side with the severer forms of a later period. The naos walls were built of the limestone orthostats which have been preserved, with upper courses of mud brick. Along each side were four short cross-walls or buttresses, with columns between them. In one of the recesses so formed, on the north side, the Hermes of Praxiteles was found.