Brauron (Βραυρών, Βραυρώνα, also transliterated Vravron, Vravrona) is an ancient sanctuary in eastern Attica near Athens. It was dedicated to the Goddess Artemis and it can be related to the Brauronion on the Acropolis of Athens.
Worship on the site can be dated to the 8th c. BCE, and a temple was built in the 6th c on the site, while most of the major building activity is dated to the late 5th c. BCE.
Brauron Timeline
| 3500-2000 BCE | Early Bronze Age: First known settlement in Brauron area |
| 2000-1600 BCE | Middle Bronze Age: Fortified settlement at the acropolis |
| 1600-1230 BCE | Dense population on the hill. Chamber tombs on Lapoutsi and Chamlia hills |
| 1230-900 BCE | Settlements abandoned |
| 900-700 BCE | Settlements at Kipi and Metochi locations. Evidence of worship activities on site |
| 700-480 BCE | Most active period. Building of Artemis temple, the Stoa, and stone bridge |
| 450-300 BCE | Sunctuary peak era |
| 300 BCE | Sanctuary abandonment |
The Archaeological Site
The Π-shaped stoa is the most visible ruin on the site. The stoa is of the Doric style and it encloses a central courtyard that’s 20x27m. Votive statues were displayed behind the colonnade, of which only the two side columns were completed. The stoa was built between 425 and 420 BCE, making it the oldest stoa in Greece.
A series of ritual feasting rooms were located behind the stoa colonnade.
A small church dedicated to St. George (16th c. CE) is located adjacent to the foundations of the ancient temple of Artemis, above the sacred spring.
The temple of Artemis was a Doric temple in antis with opisthodromus – adyton, and was built in the 5th c. BCE. Only the foundations are visible today.
A unique example of a ancient, classical era, bridge survives at Brauron. It’s 9m wide and bridges the banks of Erasinos river – an 8m long span.
Brauron Sanctuary Photos
Brauron Archaeological site photos.
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