The sanctuary of Artemis at Vravron (Ancient
Greek; Βραυρών) is the site where the cult Goddess was revered
and worshiped. Its surroundings are
punctuated with vineyards, olive and fig tree groves, rocks and wild plants a
landscape reminiscent to as Attica looked in ancient times. Homer tells us that as the Greek fleet was
preparing to sail to Troy they gather in Aulis near the Euripus strait, the sea
in between Vravron and the island of Euboea.
While they waited for favorable winds, king Agamemnon of Mycenae killed
a bull as offering to Gods. As the stag
was sacred to Artemis the act enraged the goddess who produced northerly winds,
which were opposite to the desired ones.
Agamemnon responded to an omen that instructed the king to sacrifice his
daughter Iphigenia, in lieu of favorable winds, in the last moment Artemis
provided a surrogate sacrifice through divine intervention. The saved Iphigenia became a priestess of the
goddess among the Tauri, the people living in the Crimean Peninsula in the
Black Sea. Euripides writes that Iphigenia with the help of her brother Orestes
returns and lands in the little bay of Brauron and becomes the priestess of
Artemis, lived, died and was buried in the sanctuary. During the Classical period Athenian girls aged between 5 to
10 served in the sanctuary. They were known as Αρκτοι "little bears" from the
saffron-colored garments they wore, recalling a bear sacred to Artemis. The sanctuary continued in use until the 3rd
century BC when it was abandoned.
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Wow! I love mythology! It is so full of excitement and mystical happenings. ! often wonder about the parallel stories in the bible, same story, different names and places! Wouldn't it be great to have been there and witnessed all that really happened during those times? Someone should invent a time machine whereby you step in, punch in the date and ZAP!!! You are there! Imagine the world 200 years from now and what they will be saying about us??? Great stuff!!!
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