Heroon 3

Heroon 3

View looking southwest at the rear and east sides of the Heroon that towers over the northwest corner of the Upper Agora at Sagalassos.  The grey building beyond it is the Doric Temple—that was exposed to the elements for about 2,000 years!

The frieze of the Heroon depicts 14 dancing girls—each holding the garment of their neighbor and above it is the Corinthian-like structure.

The Heroon is 46 ft. [14 m.] high.  The podium and steps were found in tact and this reconstruction (anastylosis) in the main uses only materials that were found nearby!  The frieze of the 14 dancing girls is an exact copy (the originals are in the museum in Burdur).

"Heroon" is a Greek term that refers to a monument that was built in honor of a hero.  It is not known to whom this Heroon was dedicated, although a head found nearby look suspiciously like that of Alexander the Great—but the excavators believe that the monument was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus (27 B.C.–A.D. 17).