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Ancient festival of Heraia:
Heraia used to be celebrated on this location around 6th century BC. This festivity was dedicated to goddess Hera, whose sanctuary was located between the ancient city-states of Argos and Mycenae. This event consisted of an athletic competition between women, which was actually the first of this type performed in the Olympic Stadium.
At first, this competition was about just foot races, like it happened with the one for men. |
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The participants were divided into three groups, according to their ages, and they covered a track of the Olympic Stadium, which was 5/6
the length that was used for men. According to Pausanias, the competitors used a tunic that reached their knees, and left their right shoulders bared. These tunics, although were not used by men in competition –they were nude for such events- were a common men’s clothing for hard physical work. This means that the contestant women were dressed as men for these occasions. |
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The winners were awarded with the traditional olive crowns, as well as meat from the animal that used to be sacrificed to Hera, as part of her worshipping. They also won the pride of being able to have statues with their names inscribed or painted portraits with their own image, on the columns of the temple of Hera. In our days, the place where the portraits used to be put still remains, but unfortunately the portraits did not stand the passing of time.
Modern Festivals: A religious festival is held in the memory of Agios Panteleimonas each year on the 27th of July. |
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