The date of the West Building in the Argive Heraion and the architectural development of the sanctuary

Abstract

Original title: Die Datierung des Bankettbaus im Heraion von Argos und die bauliche Entwicklung des Heiligtums

The date of the ›West Building‹ in the sanctuary of Hera at Argos has long been disputed among scholars. While some date the building to the Archaic period on account of the technique and style of a number of architectural elements, others argue that the location of the building directly next to the terrace wall of the Classical temple supports a date in the Classical period. The present article reviews both positions. On the basis of autopsy of the site, I demonstrate that the contradictory dating of the ›West Building‹ is the result of the systematic use of Archaic spolia. The spolia material makes it possible to reconstruct an Archaic, two-aisled stoa with a length of approximately 40 m. This stoa presumably stood on the upper terrace near the Archaic temple. Finally, the implications of these findings for the overall development of the sanctuary from the Archaic period down to the late 5^th century B.C. are discussed