The Temple of Hera at Olympia, known as the Heraion, is the oldest temple of the whole sanctuary and one of the earliest Doric temples in Greece. Built around 600 BC and dedicated to Hera, the queen of the gods, it predates the great Temple of Zeus by more than a century, and its worn columns show the first stage of monumental Greek architecture. Beyond its age, the Heraion is famous today as the place where the Olympic flame is kindled before every modern Games, in a ceremony held at its ancient altar. This guide tells the full story of the temple, from its building to its ruin and its living role in the modern Olympics.
This guide covers the Temple of Hera at Olympia in full: when it was built, its architecture, its dedication to Zeus and Hera, the Olympic flame ceremony, the women’s Heraean Games, the treasures found in it, how it fell, and what you see today. Read it beside the guide to the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, the Archaeological Museum of Olympia and the full Ancient Olympia guide.
What is the Temple of Hera at Olympia?
The Temple of Hera at Olympia, the Heraion, is the oldest temple of the sanctuary, an early Doric temple built around 600 BC and dedicated to the goddess Hera. It stands in the sacred precinct north of the Temple of Zeus, and its altar is the spot where the Olympic flame is lit before every modern Games, so it joins great age with a living role today.
It is the oldest temple. The Heraion predates the Temple of Zeus by more than a century, so it shows the earliest monumental architecture at Olympia.
It honoured Hera. The temple was dedicated to Hera, queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, so it gave the goddess her own great house in the sanctuary.
It lights the flame. The Olympic flame is kindled at the Heraion’s altar before each modern Games, so the ancient temple has a place in every Olympics today.
When was the Temple of Hera at Olympia built?
The Temple of Hera at Olympia was built around 600 BC, in the early archaic period, making it one of the oldest monumental temples in Greece. An earlier shrine stood on the site before it. Over the centuries the temple was repaired and its columns renewed, and it kept its place at the heart of the sanctuary until an earthquake brought it down in late antiquity.
It rose around 600 BC. The Heraion dates to the early sixth century BC, so it is among the earliest great temples of the Greek world.
An earlier shrine came first. A simpler sanctuary stood on the spot before the temple, so worship there was older still than the building.
It was long maintained. The temple was repaired over the centuries, its wooden columns gradually replaced in stone, so it survived far longer than most archaic buildings.
What did the Temple of Hera at Olympia look like?
The Temple of Hera was a long, low Doric temple with a single row of columns on all sides, the oldest such peripteral temple at Olympia. It measured about 50 by 18 metres, with sixteen columns along each side and six across each end. Its lower walls were stone and its upper parts originally mud-brick and wood, with the wooden columns replaced in stone over the centuries.
It was long and low. The temple stretched about 50 metres with a squat, heavy profile, so it looks archaic beside the taller, later Temple of Zeus.
Its columns were replaced in stone. The original wooden columns were renewed in stone one by one across the centuries, so its surviving columns differ in style and date.
It mixed materials. Stone walls carried an upper structure once of mud-brick and timber, so the Heraion shows an early stage before all-stone temples.
Was the Temple of Hera dedicated to Zeus as well?
Yes, the Temple of Hera was originally dedicated to both Zeus and Hera together. When the great Temple of Zeus was completed several decades later, the god moved to his own grand temple, and the Heraion was then dedicated to Hera alone. So the older temple began as a joint shrine to the divine couple and became the temple of the queen of the gods.
It began as a joint temple. The Heraion first honoured both Zeus and Hera, so it served the divine couple together in the sanctuary’s early days.
Zeus moved to his temple. When the Temple of Zeus was finished, the god took his own house, so the Heraion was left to Hera alone.
Hera kept the temple. From then the temple belonged to Hera, queen of the gods, so it remained her sanctuary within Olympia.
How is the Olympic flame lit at the Temple of Hera?
The Olympic flame is lit at the altar of the Temple of Hera before every modern Olympic Games. Actresses dressed as ancient priestesses gather at the temple, and the high priestess kindles the flame from the sun’s rays using a parabolic mirror. The flame is then carried by torch relay from Olympia to the host city, linking the ancient sanctuary to every modern Games.
Priestesses perform the rite. Performers in ancient dress act as the priestesses of Hera at the ceremony, so the ritual evokes the temple’s ancient worship.
The sun kindles the flame. A parabolic mirror focuses the sun’s rays to light the torch at the Hera altar, so the flame is drawn from the sun itself.
The torch relay follows. The lit flame is relayed by torch from Olympia to the host city, so the Heraion opens every modern Olympic Games.
What were the Heraean Games at the Temple of Hera?
The Heraean Games were an ancient festival for women held at Olympia in honour of Hera, the goddess of the temple. Separate from the men’s Olympic Games, they featured foot races for unmarried women on a shortened track in the stadium. Winners received olive crowns and a share of a cow sacrificed to Hera, and the right to dedicate their portraits in the temple.
They honoured Hera. The Heraean Games were dedicated to the goddess of the temple, so they gave women their own festival at Olympia.
They held foot races. Unmarried women raced on a track shortened to about five-sixths of the men’s length, so the Games had their own athletic contest.
Winners were honoured. Victors received olive crowns and portraits in the temple, so the Heraean Games gave women a share of Olympic glory, as the guide to the ancient Olympic Games sets out.
What treasures were found in the Temple of Hera?
The Temple of Hera yielded some of the greatest finds at Olympia. The celebrated Hermes of Praxiteles, the marble statue of the god carrying the infant Dionysos, was discovered in its ruins, and the temple also held a large limestone head of Hera and the famous disc of Iphitos, on which the Olympic truce was recorded. These treasures are displayed in the Archaeological Museum.
The Hermes was found here. The Hermes of Praxiteles was discovered in the ruins of the Heraion, so the temple gave the museum its most famous statue.
The head of Hera survives. A large limestone head thought to be Hera came from the temple, so a piece of its cult image endures in the museum.
It held the disc of Iphitos. The bronze disc recording the sacred Olympic truce was kept in the Heraion, so the temple guarded a symbol of the Games’ peace, as the museum guide describes.
How did the Temple of Hera fall into ruin?
The Temple of Hera fell into ruin after the sanctuary was abandoned and pagan worship ended. Powerful earthquakes in late antiquity toppled its columns, and river silt then buried the site for centuries. Excavation later uncovered the temple’s platform and fallen columns, and archaeologists re-erected some of them, so its ground plan and a few standing columns can be seen today.
Worship ended it. When pagan festivals were banned, the temple lost its purpose, so it was abandoned along with the sanctuary.
Earthquakes toppled it. Severe tremors in late antiquity brought the columns down, so the temple survives as fallen drums and foundations.
Excavation revealed it. Archaeologists uncovered and partly re-erected the temple, so its plan and some columns stand again for visitors.
What can you see at the Temple of Hera today?
Today you see the clear ground plan of the Temple of Hera, its stone platform, fallen column drums and several re-erected columns standing among them. The altar where the Olympic flame is lit lies before the temple. Set in the green sacred precinct beside the Temple of Zeus and the Philippeion, the Heraion is one of the most evocative and photographed monuments at Olympia.
The plan is clear. The temple’s outline, platform and columns are easily read, so visitors picture the whole building among the ruins.
Some columns stand. Archaeologists re-erected several columns, so the Heraion has upright columns where most of Olympia is fallen.
The flame altar is here. The altar where the Olympic flame is kindled lies before the temple, so visitors stand where the modern ceremony takes place.
Who was Hera, the goddess of the temple?
Hera was the queen of the Greek gods, the wife and sister of Zeus, and the goddess of marriage, women, family and childbirth. As the consort of the king of the gods, she held a place of honour in the Greek pantheon, and her temple at Olympia gave her a great house beside her husband in the sanctuary that hosted the Olympic Games in his honour.
She was queen of the gods. As the wife of Zeus, Hera reigned as queen among the Olympians, so her temple ranked among the greatest.
She guarded marriage. Hera was the goddess of marriage and women, so her worship and the women’s Heraean Games suited her role.
She stood beside Zeus. Her temple at Olympia placed her near her husband, so the divine couple were honoured together in the sanctuary.
How do you visit the Temple of Hera at Olympia?
You visit the Temple of Hera inside the archaeological site of Olympia, on the same combined ticket that covers the whole sanctuary and the museums. The Heraion stands a short walk from the entrance, in the sacred Altis beside the Temple of Zeus and the Philippeion, so it comes early on the walk through the site, close to the path leading to the stadium.
It sits in the Altis. The temple stands in the sacred precinct near the Temple of Zeus, so it is among the first monuments on the walk.
One ticket covers it. The combined ticket for the site and museums includes the Heraion, so there is no separate charge to see it.
A guide adds the story. A guide or audio guide explains the temple, the flame and the Games, so the ruins mean far more, as the full Ancient Olympia guide sets out for reaching the site.
Why is the Temple of Hera one of the earliest Doric temples?
The Temple of Hera is one of the earliest Doric temples because it was built around 600 BC, at the very start of monumental Greek temple architecture. It shows early features: a long, low plan, closely set and heavy columns, and an upper structure once of mud-brick and timber. Its wooden columns were replaced in stone over the centuries, so it captures the transition to the classic stone temple.
It stands at the beginning. The Heraion dates to the dawn of Greek temple building, so it is a key example of the early Doric style.
Its features are archaic. Heavy columns and a long, low form mark it as early, so it differs from the taller, lighter temples that followed.
It shows the shift to stone. Its wooden columns were renewed in stone across the centuries, so the temple records the change from timber to all-stone building.
What was inside the Temple of Hera?
Inside the Temple of Hera stood cult statues of Hera seated on a throne and Zeus standing beside her in armour, described by the ancient traveller Pausanias. The temple also held a richly worked table on which the olive crowns for Olympic victors were displayed, along with other treasures and dedications, so its interior was a store of sacred art as well as a place of worship.
Cult statues stood within. A seated Hera and a standing, helmeted Zeus filled the temple, so the divine couple were shown together in the interior.
The victors’ table was here. A finely worked table on which the olive crowns were laid stood in the temple, so the Heraion held the prizes of the Games.
Pausanias recorded it. The traveller Pausanias described the statues and treasures inside, so much of what is known of the interior comes from his account.
How was the Hermes of Praxiteles found in the temple?
The Hermes of Praxiteles was found in the Temple of Hera during the excavations of Olympia, lying among the fallen remains of the temple where it had stood. Protected by the collapsed clay and debris, the marble statue survived almost intact, one of the greatest discoveries in Greek archaeology. It is now the star exhibit of the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
It lay in the ruins. The statue was uncovered among the fallen remains of the Heraion, so the temple preserved it through the centuries.
It survived nearly intact. The debris protected the marble, so the Hermes emerged in remarkable condition, a rare survival of an original masterpiece.
It became the museum’s star. The Hermes is displayed in its own hall in the Archaeological Museum, so the find from the Heraion is the museum’s most famous work.
What was the disc of Iphitos in the Temple of Hera?
The disc of Iphitos was a bronze disc kept in the Temple of Hera on which the terms of the sacred Olympic truce were inscribed. Named for Iphitos, the king of Elis credited with founding or reviving the Games, it recorded the truce that protected athletes and spectators travelling to Olympia. The disc was one of the most venerated objects in the sanctuary.
It recorded the truce. The disc bore the terms of the Olympic truce, so it was the written charter of the peace that framed the Games.
It honoured Iphitos. Named for the king said to have founded the Games, the disc tied the truce to the origins of Olympia.
It was deeply revered. The disc was among the most sacred objects at Olympia, so it was kept safe within the Heraion.
How was the Temple of Hera excavated?
The Temple of Hera was excavated as part of the long German excavation of Olympia, which uncovered the temple’s platform, fallen columns and the treasures within, including the Hermes of Praxiteles. Later work re-erected several of the temple’s columns from their fallen drums, so the Heraion is one of the few monuments at Olympia to show upright columns among its ruins today.
German archaeologists uncovered it. The long excavation of Olympia revealed the temple and its finds, so the Heraion returned to light with the rest of the sanctuary.
The Hermes emerged here. The excavation of the temple uncovered the Hermes of Praxiteles, so the dig produced one of the great finds of Greek archaeology.
Columns were raised again. Later restoration re-erected several columns, so the temple shows standing columns where most of Olympia is fallen.
How does the Temple of Hera compare to the Temple of Zeus?
The Temple of Hera and the Temple of Zeus are the two great temples of Olympia. The Heraion is older, smaller and more archaic, an early Doric temple from around 600 BC. The Temple of Zeus is later, far larger and grander, from the mid fifth century BC, and it held a Wonder of the world. Together they show the development of the Doric temple across a century and a half.
Hera’s temple is older. The Heraion predates the Temple of Zeus by more than a century, so its form is markedly more archaic.
Zeus’s temple is greater. The Temple of Zeus is larger, taller and richer, so it dwarfs the older Heraion nearby.
Together they show change. The two temples span the growth of Doric architecture, so seeing both traces the evolution of the Greek temple, as the guide to the Temple of Zeus describes.
What stands near the Temple of Hera?
Near the Temple of Hera stand several monuments of the sacred Altis. The round Philippeion of the Macedonian kings lies just to the west, the great Temple of Zeus rises to the south, and the terrace of city treasuries and the entrance to the stadium lie to the east. The Nymphaeum fountain of Herodes Atticus stands to the north, so the Heraion sits at the heart of the sanctuary.
The Philippeion is close. The elegant round monument of the Macedonian kings stands just west of the Heraion, so the two are seen together.
The Temple of Zeus rises nearby. The great temple lies a short walk south, so the two temples are visited in sequence.
The stadium path is near. The route to the stadium passes just east of the temple, so the Heraion comes on the way to the arena.
Why is the Temple of Hera important?
The Temple of Hera is important as the oldest temple of Olympia, a key monument in the history of Greek architecture, the source of the Hermes of Praxiteles, and the place where the Olympic flame is lit for every modern Games. It joins great antiquity with a living role in the Olympics, so few ancient ruins are at once so old and so present in the modern world.
It is architecturally important. As one of the earliest Doric temples, the Heraion is a landmark in the history of the Greek temple.
It gave a masterpiece. The Hermes of Praxiteles was found in the temple, so it is tied to one of the greatest works of Greek art.
It lives on in the Olympics. The Olympic flame is lit at its altar, so the ancient temple has a place in every modern Games.
What decoration did the Temple of Hera have?
The Temple of Hera was decorated with a painted terracotta roof and ornaments in the archaic style. A great terracotta disc-shaped akroterion, richly patterned, crowned the peak of the roof and survives in the Archaeological Museum. The temple’s early architecture carried little sculptural decoration compared with the later Temple of Zeus, so its ornament was chiefly in painted clay.
A terracotta disc crowned it. A large painted clay akroterion topped the roof, so the temple’s peak carried a distinctive archaic ornament.
Its ornament was in clay. The Heraion’s decoration was mainly painted terracotta rather than carved marble, so it reflects early temple design.
The museum holds the pieces. The roof ornament and fragments are displayed in the Archaeological Museum, so the temple’s decoration survives indoors.
What is the Philippeion beside the Temple of Hera?
The Philippeion is an elegant round monument just west of the Temple of Hera, begun by King Philip of Macedon and completed by his son Alexander the Great. It held gold-and-ivory statues of the Macedonian royal family and is one of the few circular buildings at Olympia. Its graceful ring of columns makes a striking neighbour to the ancient Heraion.
It honoured the Macedonian kings. The Philippeion held statues of Philip, Alexander and their family, so it celebrated the royal house of Macedon.
It is a rare round building. The monument is one of few circular structures at Olympia, so it stands out among the rectangular temples.
It neighbours the Heraion. The Philippeion lies just west of the Temple of Hera, so the two are seen together on the walk.
Why does the Olympic flame ceremony matter?
The Olympic flame ceremony at the Temple of Hera matters because it forms the living link between the ancient and modern Olympic Games. Held before every Games, summer and winter, the ritual draws on the temple’s ancient worship of Hera and the memory of the Games born at Olympia. The flame it kindles travels the world by torch relay, so the Heraion opens each modern Olympics.
It links ancient and modern. The ceremony ties the modern Games to their ancient origin at Olympia, so the flame carries that history to the world.
It opens every Games. The flame is lit before each summer and winter Olympics, so the Heraion plays a role in every modern Games.
It travels the world. The torch relay carries the flame from Olympia to the host city, so the ceremony reaches audiences everywhere.
Who lights the Olympic flame at the Temple of Hera?
The Olympic flame at the Temple of Hera is lit by an actress in the role of the high priestess, supported by others playing the priestesses of Hera. Dressed in robes evoking ancient Greece, the high priestess holds a torch to a parabolic mirror that focuses the sun’s rays, kindling the flame at the temple’s altar in a ceremony watched around the world.
A high priestess leads it. An actress in the role of the high priestess lights the flame, so the ceremony recalls the ancient priestesses of Hera.
The sun provides the fire. A parabolic mirror focuses sunlight to kindle the torch, so the flame is drawn from the sun itself.
The world watches. The ceremony at the Heraion is broadcast globally, so the temple is seen by millions before each Games.
What is the best time to see the Temple of Hera?
The best time to see the Temple of Hera is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light is soft and the crowds are thin. Spring and autumn bring the mildest weather and the greenest setting, while high summer is hot at the open site. The re-erected columns of the Heraion photograph beautifully in the low golden light of early and late day.
Early and late are best. The soft light and thin crowds of early morning and late afternoon suit the temple, so those hours reward a visit.
Spring and autumn are mildest. The shoulder seasons bring comfortable weather and a green setting, so they are the pleasantest times.
The columns photograph well. The standing columns catch the golden light, so the Heraion is one of the most photogenic monuments at Olympia.
Is the Temple of Hera worth seeing?
Yes, the Temple of Hera is well worth seeing and is a highlight of any visit to Olympia. As the oldest temple of the sanctuary, the source of the Hermes of Praxiteles and the place where the Olympic flame is lit, it joins great history with real beauty. Its re-erected columns and its altar of the flame make it one of the most memorable monuments on the site.
It carries great history. As the oldest temple and the home of the flame, the Heraion is rich in significance, so it rewards every visitor.
It is beautiful in itself. Its standing columns in the green Altis make a lovely sight, so it is among the most photographed ruins at Olympia.
It completes the visit. Seeing the Heraion beside the Temple of Zeus and the stadium rounds out the sanctuary, so it belongs on every tour, as the Ancient Olympia guide describes.
How was Hera worshipped at the Temple of Hera?
Hera was worshipped at her temple with offerings, sacrifices and the weaving of a new robe, the peplos, presented to the goddess every four years by a college of sixteen women of Elis. These same women organised the Heraean Games in her honour. Worship centred on the temple and its altar, so the Heraion was a focus of women’s religious life at Olympia.
Women led her worship. A college of sixteen women of Elis served Hera, so her cult had a strong female role at Olympia.
They wove her robe. The sixteen women wove a new peplos for the goddess every four years, so the weaving was a central rite of her worship.
They ran her Games. The same women organised the Heraean Games, so worship and athletics were joined in Hera’s honour.
What is the myth of Hera and Zeus?
In Greek myth, Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus, king of the gods, and queen of Olympos. She was the goddess of marriage and women, often shown as proud and jealous of her husband’s many affairs. Their marriage was the divine model of wedlock, so Hera’s temple beside the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia reflected the union of the king and queen of the gods.
She was the wife of Zeus. Hera was both sister and consort of Zeus, so she reigned as queen among the Olympian gods.
She guarded marriage. As goddess of marriage and women, Hera’s worship suited a temple honouring the divine couple.
Their union was the model. The marriage of Zeus and Hera was the archetype of wedlock, so their paired worship at Olympia carried deep meaning.
Why did the women’s Heraean Games matter?
The women’s Heraean Games mattered because they gave women their own athletic festival at a time when they were barred from the men’s Olympic Games. Held in the same stadium on a shortened track, the races honoured Hera and let young women compete for olive crowns and lasting honour. The Games are a rare record of women’s athletics in the ancient Greek world.
They opened sport to women. The Heraean Games let women compete where the Olympics excluded them, so they were a rare female contest.
They honoured the goddess. The races were dedicated to Hera, so athletics and worship were joined in her festival.
They are a rare record. Few sources record women’s sport in antiquity, so the Heraean Games are historically important.
What is the Nymphaeum near the Temple of Hera?
The Nymphaeum near the Temple of Hera is a grand semicircular Roman fountain built by the wealthy Athenian Herodes Atticus. It stood just north of the Heraion and brought fresh water to the sanctuary, decorated with statues of the imperial family and of Herodes’ own household. Several of its sculptures are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
It brought water to the site. The Nymphaeum supplied fresh water to the sanctuary, so it served a practical need in the Roman age.
A rich Athenian built it. The benefactor Herodes Atticus paid for the fountain, so it marks the Roman period of Olympia.
Its statues are in the museum. Sculptures from the Nymphaeum are displayed indoors, so its decoration survives in the museum.
What other early Doric temples compare to the Heraion?
The Temple of Hera compares to other early Doric temples such as the Temple of Apollo at Corinth and the early temples of Paestum in southern Italy. Like them, the Heraion has heavy, closely set columns and a long, low plan typical of the archaic period. Among these, the Temple of Hera at Olympia is one of the oldest and best preserved in its ground plan.
It shares archaic features. Like other early Doric temples, the Heraion has heavy columns and a long, low form, so it belongs to their family.
It stands among the oldest. The temple is one of the earliest of its kind, so it ranks with the first monumental Doric temples of Greece.
Its plan is well preserved. The Heraion’s ground plan survives clearly, so it is among the most legible of the early temples.
Where exactly does the Temple of Hera stand in Olympia?
The Temple of Hera stands in the north-western part of the sacred Altis at Olympia, on level ground below the wooded Kronos hill. It lies just north of the great Temple of Zeus, east of the round Philippeion, and west of the terrace of treasuries and the entrance to the stadium. Its position at the heart of the sanctuary puts it early on the walk through the site.
It sits below the Kronos hill. The temple stands on level ground at the foot of the wooded hill, so it occupies a green corner of the Altis.
It neighbours the great monuments. The Temple of Zeus, the Philippeion and the treasuries all lie close by, so the Heraion is surrounded by the sanctuary’s finest buildings.
It comes early on the walk. Its central position means visitors reach it soon after entering, so it is among the first monuments on a tour of Olympia.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Temple of Hera at Olympia
Is the Temple of Hera older than the Temple of Zeus?
Yes, the Temple of Hera is older than the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. The Heraion was built around 600 BC, while the Temple of Zeus rose in the mid fifth century BC, more than a century later. This makes the Temple of Hera the oldest monumental temple in the sanctuary and one of the earliest Doric temples in all of Greece.
The gap of over a century between the two temples is why the Heraion looks so much more archaic than its grander neighbour.
Where is the Olympic flame lit?
The Olympic flame is lit at the altar of the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia. Before every modern Games, a ceremony there kindles the flame from the sun’s rays, and it is carried by torch relay to the host city. The altar lies just before the ruined temple, so visitors to Olympia stand where the flame is born.
The Heraion’s altar is the exact spot of the flame ceremony, so it links the ancient temple to every modern Olympic Games.
What was found in the Temple of Hera?
The most famous find from the Temple of Hera is the Hermes of Praxiteles, the marble statue of Hermes carrying the infant Dionysos, discovered in its ruins. The temple also held a large limestone head of Hera and the disc of Iphitos recording the Olympic truce. These treasures are now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
Because the Hermes was found here, the Heraion is closely linked to the greatest statue in the Olympia museum.
How old is the Temple of Hera?
The Temple of Hera is about two thousand six hundred years old, built around 600 BC in the early archaic period. This makes it the oldest monumental temple at Olympia and one of the earliest surviving Doric temples anywhere in Greece. An even older shrine stood on the same spot before the temple, so worship there is older still than the building itself.
Its great age is a large part of the temple’s importance, so the Heraion is treasured as a landmark in the early history of Greek architecture.
Can you see the Olympic flame ceremony at the Temple of Hera?
The Olympic flame ceremony at the Temple of Hera takes place only before each Olympic Games, so it cannot be seen on an ordinary visit. On any day, however, visitors can stand at the altar where the flame is lit and see the temple and its re-erected columns. The ceremony itself, held every four years, is open to spectators and broadcast worldwide.
On a normal visit the altar and the temple are open to see, so visitors experience the setting of the ceremony even when the flame is not being lit.
Who was the goddess Hera?
Hera was the queen of the ancient Greek gods, the wife and sister of Zeus, and the goddess of marriage, women, family and childbirth. She held a place of high honour among the Olympian gods, and her worship was widespread across Greece. At Olympia her temple gave her a great house beside the sanctuary of her husband Zeus, king of the gods.
As queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, Hera was one of the most important deities of the Greek world, so her temple at Olympia was a major sanctuary.
Why is the Temple of Hera important today?
The Temple of Hera is important today above all because the Olympic flame is lit at its altar before every modern Games, summer and winter. This ceremony makes the ancient temple a living part of the modern Olympic movement, seen by audiences worldwide, so the Heraion is not only the oldest ruin at Olympia but also one of the most present in the modern world.
The flame ceremony keeps the temple in the public eye around the world, so the Heraion links the ancient sanctuary directly to the Olympic Games of today.