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Reputedly the birthplace of the godess Hera beneath a wicker bush, there has been a sanctuary at this site on the Greek island of Samos since 2000BC. Since then several temples have been built from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD, despite the ground being very unstable - which partly explains why much of the present site is in ruins.
One of the earliest temple remains (700BC) is the Hekatompedos (it translates as 100 feet) found at the centre of the site. But the first ruin the greet the visitor is the Great Temple, built later (500BC), that had double colonnades of 24 columns each along its length with triple colonnades at each end. Only a single column remains.
In the square beyond are the remains of the Altar of Rhoikos which was once in an enormous enclosure with walls 5m high and around it, several colonnaded building were built whose function is not clear. Roman and early Christian temples were also built here and a thriving settlement grew up when the Roman emperor Tiberius decreed the area a sanctuary and rich Romans moved in to avoid paying taxes. A small Roman bath-house has been uncovered.
A Sacred Way was once lined with impressive statues, some reclining, but only a couple of headless figures remain. The paved way of some 4,800 metres run to Iraeon close to the shore. Hera held pride of place in worship although temples were also built to Hermes and Aphrodite.
The pride of Samos Museum - the giant kouros - was also discovered on the site. Hera
Unstable soil, earthquakes and invasions have taken their toll on the site Hera
Only pedestals remain of the huge columns that once dominated the site Hera
The Kavo-kolona in the distance was one of a double rowed
colonnade that ran through the centre of the Great Temple Hera
The huge column bases - Megas Naos - were decorated with carved grooves Hera
Many buildings were erected here whose function remains unclear Hera
Beautifully sculpted statues once lined both sides of the Sacred Way Hera
The Sacred Way ran in a straight line to Iraeon for more than 4,000 metres Hera
Carvings in the soft Samian limestone have long since vanished but the Romans
made many marble copies Hera
All that is left of one of the hundreds of statues that once stood along the Sacred Way Hera
The single surviving column Kavo-Kolona, like a pile of stacked
toilet rolls is about half its original 20m height