2-369-873 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

A heroon in Messene, Greece. A heroon was a shrine dedicated to an ancient Greek or Roman hero and was used for the commemoration or worship of the hero. It was often erected over his supposed tomb or cenotaph. Ancient Messene lies on the slopes of Mt Ithomi, 30km/19 miles northwest of Kalamata. It was founded by Epaminondas in 369 BC after the battle of Leuctra and the first Theban invasion of the Peloponnese.