(*for better 360° experience, we recommend you to watch this video using the YouTube app on a mobile device.)
Brauron or Vravrona was one of the twelve ancient settlements of Attica in Greece and was inhabited during the Neolithic era, c. 2000 BCE, and flourished particularly from Middle Helladic to early Mycenaean times (2000–1600 BC) as a fortified site.
The sanctuary of Artemis at Vravrona is an early sacred site on the eastern coast of Attica near the Aegean Sea in a small inlet. The sanctuary contained a small temple of Artemis of Doric style, built in the 6th century, a unique stone bridge, cave shrines, a sacred spring, and a pi-shaped (Π) stoa that included dining rooms for ritual feasting. The grave of Iphigeneia can also be seen in a cave at the archaeological site.
As the Greek fleet was preparing to sail to Troy to force the return of Helen, 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. Α surrogate sacrifice was provided through the divine intervention of Artemis and the saved girl then becomes a priestess of the goddess.
In Euripides’ version of the myth, the goddess Athena reveals that Iphigenia will make landfall in Brauron and there be the priestess of Artemis, die, and be buried:
“And you, Iphigenia, beside the holy stairs
of Brauron you must hold the keys for the goddess herself:
where you will die and be buried, and – as a delight for you –
they will dedicate the finely woven material of woven cloth
which by chance women having lost their lives in childbirth
abandon in their homes. I command you to send forth
these Greek women from this land
due to their correct intentions.”
In the Temple of Brauronian Artemis, the goddess was worshiped as the protector of nature and women and of child delivery. Women who had a good delivery offered their clothes and personal items to goddess Artemis, while the clothes of women who died during delivery were offered to the grave of Iphigeneia.
The surrounding nature is lovely and you will see a stream crossing the site. This small river has been crossing the site since the ancient times.
A small church dedicated to Saint George was also built there in the 15th century CE.
Here is the video we created for you from our visit there, using wonderful 360 footage from our cameras.
Enjoy the 360 view of Vravrona’s archaeological site and relax!
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Info sources:
Museum guides
wikipedia.org
greeka.com