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Archaeologists Uncover 4th-Century BCE 'Sanctuary of Hecate' with Intact Votive Statuettes in the Peloponnese

📅 April 6, 2026 📰 Hellenic Archaeological News
Archaeologists Uncover 4th-Century BCE 'Sanctuary of Hecate' with Intact Votive Statuettes in the Peloponnese

Excavations near the ancient city of Epidaurus have led to the discovery of a subterranean sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hecate. The site, located within a natural limestone sinkhole, contains a central altar surrounded by dozens of intact bronze votive statuettes depicting the goddess in her triple-headed form.

The sanctuary also yielded a cache of ceremonial iron keys and charred remains of ritual offerings, suggesting the site was used for mystery cult initiations and chthonic rites. Archaeologists note that the seclusion of the sanctuary helped it avoid destruction during the rise of Christianity, making it one of the most complete Hellenistic ritual sites found in Greece in decades.

Original source: Hellenic Archaeological News