Greece Travel Guide the Peloponnese Corinth Prefecture: Ancient Perahora

 

Sometimes fisherman at Loutraki are willing to take people to see the site, which is open in summer daily from 8am-7pm; winter, 8:30am-3pm; free. Also a Good quick swim spot - shower your hotel Loutraki!

Perahora was called 'Peraion' or 'Pera Hora'(which means 'the country beyond' or 'the country beyond the sea'.

At an altitude of 350meters/1148feet, its acropolis commands a view of the entire Gulf of Corinth. The road leading out to Cape Melangavi, where the site is located, is a lovely ride along the sea, flanked by the Yerania mountains with its pine forests.

The road passes through the modern town of Perahora, and then follows the shore of Lake Vouliagmeni, a lagoon 2km in width, with places to swim, a campsite open all year, and a hotel.

Ancient Perahora is 1km from the tip of the peninsula. Traces of the ancient city, including an oval Hellenistic cistern with pillars inside, are scattered in an olive grove. The Heraion, or Hera Akraia near the tip of the peninsula-(from the Greek word for 'edge') was a sanctuary to the goddess Hera. It sits on the rocky slopes of the headland separating the Bay of Corinth from the Gulf of Corinth. The site is hidden at the bottom of a remote valley by a sheltered a cove, above which sits an acropolis. The view extends to Nafpaktos, 105km distant, and a bend in the straits gives the gulf the appearance of a huge lake encircled by mountains-to the north, Helikon and Parnassos, to the south, Killini. Many people come to this site just to enjoy the spectacular views.

Perahora belonged to Megara during the Middle Helladic and Mycenaean periods, according to Plutarch. The Heraion was founded during the Geometric period (11th to 8th centuries BC) allegedly under Argive influence, but the site flourished during the Archaic and Classical periods as a Corinthian settlement, when the idependent city state of Corinth protected it from would be invaders. It was taken by the Spartans, however, during the Corinthian War of 391-90BC. The site has been deserted since Roman times, but for shepherds and their animals. Stones have been carried away from the site by thieves from the opposite coast. Perahora was excavated in 1930-36 by Humfry Payne and the British School, an undertaking described by Payne's wife, author Dilys Powell, in her book 'An affair of the heart'. Numerous votive offerings were found-possibly left by passing sailors.

The foundations of a temple remain (apsidal; Geometric period), and near it the narrow rectangular temple which followed it during the 6th century BC. A fine triglyph altar, decorated with a Doric frieze, is associated with the temple. An enclosed 5th century BC 'agora' (market place) is to the west of the temples , consisting of a 5th century BC stoa; to the east of the temples is a 4th century BC L shaped Doric stoa. Aghios Ioannis is a small chapel which originally lay on top of the apsidal temple and was moved in 1933 and found to the east up in the valley. South of the Hellenistic cistern near the church are remains of ritual dining rooms which are typically found in Greek sanctuaries. The path leading upward continues to the temenos of the 'Hera Limenia', a walled enclosure within which is the rectangular 8th century BC Temple or Treasury, where many votive offerings were located.

A sacred pool was to the west of the temenos (dry now) where offerings were cast, possibly before seeking counsel from the oracle which Strabo maintained existed at the site. A circular structure that is believed to have been a water collecting tank, was unearthed in 1982, 28meters in diameter, water proofed, with no entryway, and with a floor sloping inward towards the center.

It dates to the Classical period. It is thought to be the structure mentioned by Xenophon as the place where King Agesilaos of Sparta sat and took stock of his shaken war booty. Polygonal walls near the lighthouse on the promontory suggest that the acropolis was fortified. Parts of the submerged port are also visible. Sometimes fisherman at Loutraki are willing to take people to see the site, which is open in summer daily from 8am-7pm; winter, 8:30am-3pm; free).