Artemida, Attica

Artemida (Greek: Αρτέμιδα, older name Loutsa, Greek: Λούτσα) is a seaside resort town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Spata-Artemida, of which it is a municipal unit.

History

The city was named after the ancient goddess Artemis. The Temple of Artemis Brauron was among the most important sacred sites in the ancient times. Vravrona (or Brauron), about 20 km from Athens, was one of the 12 towns of Attica that was united to Athens by Theseus.
The ancient temple of Artemis is of Doric style and flourished in the 5th-4th century B.C. According to a myth, this is the temple where Iphigeneia was brought by her brother Orestes, when they met in the land of Tauris, where she served as a priestess in a local temple of Artemis. Iphigeneia had been transferred to Tauris by goddess Artemis herself, when she saved her from the sacrifice in Aulis. Returning to Greece, Iphigeneia brought with her a wooden statue of Artemis from Tauris.