The Artemis Cult in the Limnaeon

The sanctuary is famous for its ivory and bone plaques inspired by Phoenician models, more than 100,000 lead figurines, and an array of unusual terracotta masks. The earliest inscription speaks of Orthea, who was probably an independent goddess, only later syncretized with Artemis. In the cult's legend though, related by Pausanias, the strange character of the goddess was immediately manifested when the men who found her went mad.