Metroon

Shrine of Mother goddess, Athens archive building

A metroon (Ancient Greek: Μητρῷον, Mētrō̂on or Mētrō̂ion) was an ancient Greek temple dedicated to a mother goddess. They were often devoted to Cybele, Demeter, or Rhea.

Athens

Coordinates: 37°58′31″N 23°43′19″E / 37.975214°N 23.722077°E / 37.975214; 23.722077

The Athenian Metroon was located on the west side of the city's Agora, in the Old Bouleuterion, which formerly housed the city council. At the end of the 5th century BC, the New Bouleuterion was built and the council's former home converted into a temple to Cybele. According to legend, the Athenians had killed one of her wandering priests when he attempted to introduce her cult; the plague which then visited the city was dealt with by honoring her. (The account may, however, have been a later invention, as the earliest source is from the 4th century AD.)^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

The Metroon served other public functions, such as housing the official archives of the city.^[5] For instance, the philosopher Epicurus filed a donatio mortis causa there.^[6]

Olympia

The Olympian Metroon was erected in the late 4th or early 3rd century BC, immediately below the terrace which housed the Treasuries.^[7]

References

^ Julian. "Hymn to the Mother of the Gods". (362).
^ Roller, 1999. pp. 162 - 167
^ Roscoe, p. 200
^ Robertson, in Lane, p. 258.
^ The Metrôon (Old Bouleuterion) Archived 2007-02-06 at the Wayback Machine at Athenian Daily Life, Brooklyn College, City University of New York.
^ Finley, Moses I. (1973). Studies in Land and Credit in Ancient Athens, 500-200 B.C.; the Horos-Inscriptions. Arno Press. p. 26. ISBN 0-405-04775-4.
^ "12 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Greece | PlanetWare". www.planetware.com.