Athens Artemis temple

Location: Vravrona

Located on the eastern side of Attica, the Sanctuary of Brauronian Artemis was among the most important sacred sites in ancient times. Vravrona (or Brauron), about 20 km from Athens, was one of the 12 towns of Attica that Theseus united and formed Athens.

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The first inhabitants settled in Vravrona in about 3,500 BC. Gradually, the town developed around an acropolis and many important politicians of Athens originated from Brauron, including Miltiades, Cimon and the tyrant Pisistratus. In fact, it was the tyrant of Athens, Pisistratus, and his sons who originally founded this cult of Artemis in the 6th century BC.

According to mythology, Iphigenia was brought by her brother Orestes to the temple when they met in the land of Tauris, where she served as a priestess in a local temple of Artemis. Iphigenia had been transferred to Tauris by the goddess Artemis herself when she saved her from the sacrifice in Aulis. Returning to Greece, Iphigeneia brought a wooden statue of Artemis from Tauris with her.
The story of Iphigenia is presented in two theatrical plays by the distinguished ancient playwright Euripides - Iphigenia en Aulis and Iphigenia in Tauris, respectively.

In the Temple of Brauronian Artemis, the goddess was worshiped as the protector of nature and women. She was mostly worshiped as the protector of childbirth. In fact, women who had a good delivery offered their clothes and personal items to the goddess, while the clothes of women who died during delivery were offered to the grave of Iphigeneia, who was considered a chthonic deity (deity of the Underworld). The grave of Iphigeneia still lies in a cave in the archaeological site.

A festival in honor of Artemis was also taking place every four years. A parade with girls aged 5-10 years old would start from the center of Athens and terminate at the temple. The girls were wearing furs of bear, the sacred animal of the goddess. This was like a preparation that symbolized the passage from childhood to youth and marriage. In fact, most items found in this archaeological site were female personal items, clothes, and jewelry.

In the ancient site of Brauronian Artemis, visitors can see the remains of the temple, the sanctuary of Iphigeneia, the gymnasium and other buildings. Many findings have been transferred to the Archaeological Museum of Vravrona and the Acropolis Museum.
The surrounding nature is lovely and you will even see a stream crossing the site. The small river has been crossing the site since antiquity and has caused many problems to the buildings. Actually, it was due to an overflow of this river that the temple was abandoned in the 3rd century BC.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Temple of Artemis Brauron from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

Car rental: There is the option of renting a car and picking it up directly from the airport, port, or your hotel. Using a rental car allows visitors to discover the Temple of Artemis Brauron and many other places of interest in Athens at their own pace.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is "Artemis" (Bus line 304). Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.