The famous Heraion of Samos lies 6 km from Pithagorio. It was believed that the goddess Hera was born in Heraion and that is why there has been a temple there since prehistoric times. After its destruction, a second temple was built in the 7th or the 8th century BC. But that was also destroyed by the soldiers of the King of Persia, Cyrus. The third temple was built under the rule of Polycrates by the Samiot architect Rhoikos. It was built in a mixed Doric and Ionic order, and was dipteral or peripteral with a length of 108.73 m, a width of 54.68 m and a height of 25 m. Its beauty and magnificent decoration characterizes it as Pinakotheke. In the middle of Heraion, there was the sacred statue of the goddess. In front of the temple today are the remains of thermal baths, as well as the pavilion of a temple from the Roman period. Nearby also lie the remains of the grand altar. Two great feasts take place in Heraion annually. One is "Heraia", honouring the birth and the marriage of the goddess to Zeus, and the other "Tonaia", representing a miracle of the goddess.