Samos
Statue of three young women with lions from Samos, the island of Hera off the coast of Asia Minor. The ancient wooden xoanon was replaced by an Asiatic pillar goddess with high crown. Hera's image was ritually robed every year, and temple inventories list a collection of chitons with borders of different colors.
Ruins of the Temple of Hera
on Samos. This temple began as a wooden building and was rebuilt several times. It is the oldest classic Greek temple.
Archaic statue of Hera at Samos. She is sculptured in the Asian pillar-goddess style, seen in statues of Artemis, Aphrodite of Aphrodisias, and the Syrian goddess Atargatis, among others.
Coin with Hera of Samos
depicting her in a style very close to that of Artemis of Ephesus: pillar-stance, outstretched hands holding cascading garlands, heavy necklaces and high polos headdress.
Coin depicting Artemis of Ephesis in her temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the Mediterranean world. She holds strands of poppies. Her original Anatolian name was Upis, and the Ephesian temple was said to have been founded by the Amazons.
Hera of Samos in the Asiatic pillar-style. The high polos headdress is horned, and Anatolian other examples exist of horn-crowned Heras. Their precursor is the horned high-crowned Ashtart of Canaan, and later, of Cyprus.
Coin from Samos showing Hera in Asiatic style with high polos headdress, heavy necklaces, and poppy garlands, and also in Hellenic style with flowing robes and veil. The inscription reads Samion.
