Temple of Hera, Olympia

The Temple of Hera (or Heraion) at Olympia is a temple dedicated to Hera, the Greek goddess of marriage, the wife of Zeus, and the Queen of the Olympian gods. Built originally out of wood ca. 600-590 BC, the Heraion is the oldest temple at Olympia and one of the first examples of the Doric order extant in Greece. As described by the Greek geographer and traveler Pausanias, the wood was gradually replaced with stone over time as the temple was renovated. After being destroyed by an earthquake in the fourth century A.D., however, the temple was not rebuilt. Pausanias, who visited during the second century A.D., described the temple as housing a standing statue of Zeus accompanied by a statue of Hera enthroned, along with numerous other figures of various Greek gods. Pausanias also described the temple's priestesses, known as the Elean women, as having control over the temple's activities, which included organizing the Heraean Games.