| Context: | Eretria |
| Type: | Heroon |
| Summary: | Inhumation and cremation burials located near West Gate, surmounted by triangular structure and contained within a peribolos wall. |
| Date: | ca. 750 BC - ca. 630 BC |
| Dimensions: | The sides of the equilateral triangle measured 9.20 m. |
| Region: | Euboea |
| Period: | Geometric |
Plan:
Nineteen burials were located in an area south of the West Gate of the city. Seven of these were cremation burials, the remaining were inhumation burials. The cremation burials consisted of bronze cauldrons containing ashes, covered with a lead slab, the whole area being covered with slabs of stone. Above the burial area was built a triangular structure, an equilateral triangle of large horizontal stones. The stone triangle was later circumscribed by a rectangular peribolos wall.
Date Description:
The earliest burial dates to shortly after 750 B.C., the latest to ca. 700 B.C. The date evidence for the burials comes from the grave goods: swords, pottery, and jewelry, including a gold diadem, a gold scarab, and a necklace of Phoenician beads. The latest ceramic finds date to the early seventh century, providing a terminus post quem for the construction of the stone triangle above, which was constructed in ca. 680 B.C.
History:
The earliest burials in the area date to ca. 740-730 B.C. At ca. 680 B.C., the triangular structure was built, effectively marking the end of use of the burial area. South of the triangle, a large bothros or pit was dug, into which were placed the remains of sacrifices and banquets which took place at the site throughout the seventh century. In the late seventh century, a rectangular peribolos wall was built around the triangle. An oikos or andreion was later built above the bothros in the archaic period. By the late sixth century, the sanctuary or heroon was no longer venerated. In the Hellenistic period, the stuccoed walls of the so-called palace covered the area.
Other Notes:
The area is interpreted as the site of a heroon: the main geometric necropolis of Eretria lay at least 700 m. to the south, and thus the burials beneath the triangle of stones represent important, possibly royal, burials. The location of the burial area, originally outside the city walls but later incorporated within the fortifications of Eretria, further supports the interpretation that the area was a sanctuary. The erection of the triangle, and later of the peribolos wall, indicate attempts to protect and indicate, in a monumental fashion, the burials below. The presence of the bothros or sacrificial pit also attests to the rituals which took place.
A triangular structure as a feature of burials is rare in the Geometric and Archaic periods. The triangle is oriented with one of its angles pointing directly north; this may have been intentional. The triangle appears to suggest a sacred interdiction of the zone, and its form may be related to the crossing of ways and the worship of Hekate. Since each burial below was not marked individually, the triangle also served as a
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