The sanctuary is a vestige of the cult of Artemis Brauronia. According to Euripedes, Iphigenia (the daughter of Agamemnon) was due to be sacrificed, so fled to Tauris before returning with a sacred statue of Artemis and spending the rest of her days at Brauron. To atone for the death of a she-bear protected by the goddess of venery, she founded this sanctuary. The museum, 500m away, has fabulous marble statuettes of little "she-bears" (4C BC), young priestesses dedicated to the goddess Artemis.