Water and cult in the Heraion of Samos

• Applicants: Dr. Joachim Heiden; Professor Dr. Christoph Külls
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology ; Geotechnics, Hydraulic Engineering ; Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2016 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 320794653

For more than hundred years, the widely famed Sanctuary of Hera on the Greek island of Samos has been investigated by researchers under the aegis of the German Archaeological Institute. As a result, its historical development from a small sanctuary with altar at the beginning of the 10th century BC to the largest temple building of the Greeks, mentioned by Herodotus and presumably erected in the late 6th century BC, and the gradual decline from Hellenistic through Byzantine times has been intensively studied in its wider context. During the course of the works, a wide range of hydrotechnical elements were exposed which have been recorded, largely documented, too, often inadequately published and to some extent fundamentally misunderstood. For this reason, it has been planned for some time now to analyze the results recovered so far from the total area in terms of water management and hydraulic engineering and to examine the role played by the numerous water installations in the cult activities. These aims will be pursued through the research project "Water and cult in the Heraion".

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Henning Fahlbusch