Brauron

Brauron was one of the twelve cities of ancient Attica, but never mentioned as a deme, though it continued to exist down to the latest times [1]. Brauron is celebrated on account of the worship of Artemis Brauronia [1]. The sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron is an early sacred site on the eastern coast of Attica near the Aegean Sea in a small inlet [1]. A nearby hill, c. 24 m high and 220 m to the southeast, was inhabited during the Neolithic era, c. 2000 BCE, and flourished particularly from Middle Helladic to early Mycenaean times as a fortified site (acropolis) [1]. Occupation ceased in the LHIIIb period, and the acropolis was never significantly resettled after this time [1]. This gap in the occupation of the site lasted from LHIIIb until the 8th century BCE [1]. An epigram in the Anthologia Graeca concerns the offerings of childish playthings a nubile young girl dedicates to Artemis on the eve of marriage; many such tokens have been recovered from the spring at Brauron [1].