The Temple of Hera at Argos

The temple site today

In historic times Argos controlled the Argive Plain which included major centres at Nauplion on the coast, Mycenae and Tiryns. In the 7th century BC, under Pheidon, it was a major power but of less account later, and neutral in the Persian Wars. It supported Sparta against Athens, and was generally a rival of Corinth. A major dependent sanctuary of Hera lay 10 km from the town.