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A small temple-like building is situated about 10 m of the Temple. It perhaps represents the supposed Tomb of Iphigeneia, which was located in a cleft in the rock which was probably once a cave. It seems to have replaced the earlier buildings which are considered to be destroyed by the collapse of the cave roof in the mid 5th c. B.C.
As the Greek fleet was preparing to sail to Troy to force the return of Helen, they gathered in Aulis near the Euripus Strait. While there, king Agamemnon killed a stag sacred to the goddess Artemis. The enraged deity caused a contrary wind and eventually forced the king to agree to sacrifice his daughter Iphigeneia in order to ensure a favorable wind for the Greek fleet.
In one version of the myth, a surrogate sacrifice was provided through the divine intervention of Artemis, and the saved girl then became a priestess of the goddess among the Tauri, a people living near the Black Sea in the Crimean peninsula. Subsequent to these events, Iphigenia returns from among the Tauri with the assistance of her brother Orestes. In Euripides' version of the myth, the goddess Athens reveals that Iphigenia will make landfall in Brauron and there be the priestess of Artemis, die, and be buried.
Updated Jan 13, 2009
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The sanctuary of Artemis is situated at Brauron (Ancient Greek), Modern Greek - Vravrona or Vravronas) just at a distance of 1km from Mare Nostrum Hotel.
The sanctuary contained a small temple of Artemis, a unique stone bridge, cave shrines, a sacred spring, and a pi-shaped stoa that included dining rooms for ritual feasting. The special servants of Artemis Brauronia were called arktoi (bears), young girls aged between five and ten, who wore saffron robes, perhaps to recall the actual bearskins of an earlier period.
In 1945, Ioannes Papadimitriou began excavating this site. Professor Ch. Bouras continued the restoration during the 1950s to 1962. Among the fifth-century monuments are the pi-shaped stoa around the interior courtyard, opening toward the temple of Artemis; the small temple (perhaps a heroon of Iphigeneia); and the stone bridge over the Erasinos River.
I was the only visitor in the museum that day and I enjoyed staing there alone. To my great surprise it was free of charge!
You may watch my 3 min 48 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Vravrona-Brauron Sanctuary of Artemis with sirtaki music.
You may watch my high resolution photos of the Sanctuary of Artemis on Google Earth in Vraona according to the following coordinates 37º 55' 33.77" N 23º 59' 36.09" E
or on my Google Earth Panoramio Doric stoa, Doric stoa from apart, Iphigenia Church, Cave.
Updated Feb 9, 2008
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A spring emerged from the northwest end of the rock spur running down from the acropolis hill to the southeast of the site. This spring was the focus of cult activity from the 8th century BCE forward. The first activity on the site known after the Bronze Age is thus linked to cultic practice at this spring. Dedications were made by throwing objects into this sacred spring, which was located immediately northwest of the later temple platform.
Immediately to the temple terrace is a copious spring into whose waters offerings were thrown. From the partly artificial basin of the spring, and from the bed of the stream flowing N from it, many dedications were recovered, mostly of a feminine character--mirrors rings, gems, etc.; particularly valuable are the objects of bone and wood which luckily have been preserved in the mud. The spring seems to have been the most sacred part of the sanctuary until the late 6th c. B.C.
Written Feb 9, 2008
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Of the temple, dating from ca. 500 B.C., only the foundations remain. It was a small Doric building (ca. 20 x 11 m), but little is known of its plan. The most impressive building at the sanctuary is the large Doric stoa dating from ca. 430-420 B.C. It was to have had three colonnaded wings facing onto a court, the temple terrace forming the fourth side.
The Northern colonnade of the stoa has been partially restored; using the original elements found lying in front of it. Its 11 Doric columns, with shafts of local sandstone and capitals of Pentelic marble, stood on a marble stylobate, which seems to have been laid in a rising curve like that of the Parthenon.
Written Feb 9, 2008
1 Review and 63 Opinions I've spent here four nights and enjoyed stayng very much. The 4*- Hotel is located on the beautiful...
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The Hotel has a variety of places for you to eat:
Nefeli Main Restaurant operates daily in both summer and winter. It has a capacity of up to 500 people, a non smoking section, and is ideal for special events. Serving Greek and international cuisine, there are rich buffets of salads, cold and hot appetisers, grilled and vegetarian dishes, pastries, fruit and ice creams.
An American buffet breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00, and a buffet lunch from 13:00 to 15:00. A buffet dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:30. A la carte special diet dishes are available.
Pelagos Snack Bar operates daily from 12:30 to 16:00 during the summer. There is often a Greek barbecue for guests.
Orfeas Main Bar is open daily from 09:00 to 02:00 during the summer and winter. By the lobby of the hotel, it has a terrace and overlooks Vravrona Bay. There is live music in the summer and winter.
Pelagos Pool Bar is open from 10:00 to 18:00 everyday in the summer.
The night club - disco operates 6 days a week from 23:00 to 02.00 in the summer.
Written Feb 9, 2008
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By Taxi (from E. Venizelos Athens international airport):
- The journey is approximately 12 km and takes about 15 minutes by taxi.
- Upon leaving the airport take Attica Road, the motorway that connects the airport with Markopoulo.
- Turn on the junction for Markopoulo and follow the signs to Porto Rafti.
- 1 km outside Markopoulo to Porto Rafti, you will find a sign for Vravrona.
- Follow the indications to the town and to the hotel.
There is a free shuttle bus service on offer from the airport for the convenience of guests.
You may watch my
2 min 27 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Airport Athens - Vravrona trip from my YouTube channel with Chet Atkins Sirtaki music.
3 min 15 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Vravrona-Airport Athens by Mouzenidis Travel.
Updated Feb 9, 2008
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Vraona is situated in a distance of 12 kilometers from Venizelos Athens international airport. In fact this distance is two times shorter, because the road is looping around hills.
I arrived to Greece-Athens-Vraona by Russian "Kras Air" B-737. It took me 3,5 hours. The plane wasn't full and I've got a very convinuent place by the illuminator. So I've got a possibility to take a film "From rainy Domodedovo to sunny Athens by air".
You may watch this clip Moscow-Athens Flight on my YouTube channel.
Updated Feb 9, 2008
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The finds from the excavations at the artemision are mostly housed in a new archaeological museum on the site.
The archaeological museum of the site is located around a small hill about 300m from the Sanctuary of Artemis. It contains an extensive and important collection of finds from the site throughout its period of use.
Unfortunately the museum was closed when I came to have a look at its exposition. The guard told me that it is closed in winter time since November till March. Don't miss this museum since April till October!
You may watch my 2 min 22 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Vravrona Walking around area Antique Music Kenuria Agapi.
Updated Feb 9, 2008
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There is a tiny Island Church in Vraona which you can admire from apart when watching the area from your balcony or while walking around hotel area. The island is situated on the distance od several hundred meters and can be reached by boat. I was short of time and didn't come there (as well as the most of tourists).
You may watch my high resolution photos of the Island Church on Google Earth in Vraona according to the following coordinates 37º 55' 48.67" N 24º 0' 48.12" E
or on my Google Earth Panoramio Church.
Updated Feb 9, 2008
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Housing warmly decorated, comfortable and contemporary accommodation, the hotel also features an incredible amount of facilities such as meeting amenities and sporting activities which include a fitness and health centre, both indoor and outdoor swimming pools and children’s services.
You may spend all the day long (since 9.00 till 21.00) in the Spa&Wellness centre for 20 Euros. Unfortunately I was short of time and only an hour in the Spa&Wellness cost me the same 20 Euros...
Equipment: Tennis Court, Sauna, Fitness Centre, Spa & Wellness Centre, Massage, Children's Playground, Table Tennis, Windsurfing, Darts, Jacuzzi, Walking, Hammam, Mini Golf, Ski School, Indoor Swimming Pool, Outdoor Swimming Pool.
Updated Feb 9, 2008
My Greek prologue and epilogue
The modern Brauron, known as Vravronas, is a tiny settlement of Markopoulo located nearly 1 km southeast of the archaeological site. The distance from the city of Athens is 35 km , from Airport 11......
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