Zur Datierung des Hekatompedos I im Heraion von Samos

Abstract

Hekatompedos I, the oldest attested temple in the Heraion of Samos, has been the subject of controversy among researchers for decades, especially in respect of its dating. After Ernst Buschor dated the building to ca. 800 B.C., it was at first considered the oldest temple of the Greek world. Later that early dating was contested. Researchers proposed datings ranging from ca. 750 to the early 7th century. This article examines the still largely unpublished pottery which was found under Hekatompedos I in the 1930s and 60s. The examination reveals that the building was erected after ca. 680 B.C. on a backfill layer of material brought from the altar area and containing older ceramics. In addition some misapprehensions concerning Hekatompedos I in a recently published review of the volume Samos 21,1 are corrected.