according to the homeric hymn to apollo, when the god was seeking for a location to found its oracle, he arrived to the lelantine plain. the first temple is dated to the geometric period and was situated probably near the harbour, as the sea then reached the area of the agora. the "hecatompedon" (hundred-footer) apsidal edifice is the earliest in its type among those mentioned by homer, and slightly after the hecatompedon temple of hera on the island of samos. it was flanked to the south by another apsidal building which also came to light: the so-called "daphniforio" or "space with laurels" (7.5 x 11.5m) is the most ancient edifice in eretria, related to the early cult of apollo in delphi.