Pandroseion

The Pandroseion was an ancient temple on the north side of the Athenian Acropolis, dedicated to the legendary Pandrosos, who is considered the first priestess of the goddess Athena. The sanctuary included a small square temple building connected to the surrounding courtyard by an L-shaped Ionic colonnade. In this sacred precinct, worshippers honored not only Pandrosos but also the fertility goddess Thallo. The courtyard housed the tomb of King Cecrops I as well as an altar to Zeus Herkeios. Especially famous was the sacred olive tree, which grew at the spot where Athena had driven her spear into the ground. This tree survived the Persian destruction of 480 B.C. and was interpreted as a symbol of Athens' invincibility. Today, an olive tree planted in 1900 commemorates the site. In the eastern part of the grounds stood the tomb of Erechtheus, where sacred mountain snakes were also kept. Later, the entire complex was incorporated into the construction of the Erechtheion, with the western part of the new building erected directly over the old Pandroseion.