Head of Hera from the west pediment.

The Doric temple of Argos Heraion is situated on a flat plane at the northwestern side of mount Evia and overlooks the lowland of Argos and the ancient site of Larissa. The Argive Heraion was one of the most prominent sanctuaries in whole of the Greek world. It is said that it was actually the epithet 'Argive Hera' who was worshipped in the sanctuary of Hera on Samos and at sanctuaries of Hera located near Paestum. (Pliny, Natural History 3.5.70) The old temple to Hera was burned down in 423 B.C. and a new temple of the Doric order was built in its place, although nothing remains of the structure except for part of the stylobate.

The site was discovered in 1831 by General Gordon who dug there briefly in 1836. In 1854, limited investigations were carried on by Rangabe and Bursian. Schlieman made soundings in 1874, although excavation on a large scale was first undertaken by the American School of Classical Studies under the direction of Charles Waldstein in 1892-1895, then again a generation later in 1925-1928. Pre-classical remains on the acropolis and in its vicinity were examined in excavations conducted for the American School by C.W. Blegan [AJA 1939:410-444].

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The archaeological investigations have revealed finding from a Neolithic vaulted chamber tomb, suggesting there was a Mycenaean acropolis at the site before the first temple of Hera was constructed around 680 BC. The temple can be dated using the sun's azimuth as it aligns to the orientation of the temples long axis and calculated to 403 BC. plus or minus 23 years.