Temple of Hera (Corfu)

Temple of Hera (Corfu). The Temple of Hera or Heraion is an archaic temple in Corfu, built around 610 BC in the ancient city of Corfu, known today as Paleopolis, and located within the grounds of the Mon Repos estate. The Temple of Hera (Corfu)at Mon Repos is considered an important temple, and one of the oldest examples of Archaic Greek architecture.Here, in later years, queens and royalty such as the Empress of Austria-Hungary Elizabeth, the legendary Princess Sissy, and members of the dynasty of George I of Greece were hosted. Here, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of the Queen of England, Elizabeth, was born.Here, in ancient times, Hera was worshipped as “Akraea”, among others. Within the estate, at the top of the low hill of Ascension, the remains of the archaic temple of Hera Akraia were found.The great temple with its clay roof was built around 610 BC and was dedicated to Hera “Akraia”. This nickname had to do with the location of the sanctuary on the edge of the peninsula of Kanonios. Heraion was visible to ships approaching the coast of the ancient city of Corfu. Towards the end of the 5th century BC during the years of civil strife between the republicans and oligarchs it was destroyed by fire. Around 400 BC, during the renovation works, a new large temple with a marble roof was erected and a marble enclosure was built. In the 3rd century BC two other buildings were added in addition to the enclosure and a paved road. The history of Heraion through time stops in the 1st century BC when Agrippa, shortly before the naval battle of Aktion (31 BC), conquered and plundered Corfu.In the Venetian period, the ancient material from the disasters was used for the construction of the city’s fortifications. Today, while wandering along the low hill to the southwest of the Mon Repos estate, you will see the ruins of the temple, whose roof was the most ambitious roof construction project of its time.