One of the oldest Doric temples in Greece, the Temple of Hera predates the Temple of Zeus by well over a century. Enough of the lower structure survives to give a clear picture of the building's plan, and two columns still stand to their full height. Originally the temple may have been dedicated to both Zeus and Hera; it later became the sanctuary of the goddess alone.
The temple is today most famous as the place where the Olympic flame is lit for each modern Olympic Games, a ceremony conducted by women dressed in ancient robes using a parabolic mirror to focus sunlight. The flame then travels by torch relay to the host city.