#Valley of the Temples in Agrigento

[blueiscoool]

Rich Votive Deposit Discovered in Sicily's Valley of the Temples

At least sixty terracotta figurines, female protomes, and busts, oil lamps, and small vases, a rich votive deposit of bronze fragments were found in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on the southwest coast of Sicily.

The objects were found in House VII b, which forms part of the housing complex north of the temple of Juno. The campaign is fully funded and supported by the Sicilian Region through the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, directed by Roberto Sciarratta, and is led by archaeologist Maria Concetta Parello.

In an announcement published by the Sicilian Region Institutional Portal: “The findings allow us to understand the dynamics of the destruction of Agrigentum in 406 BC by the Carthaginians, when the inhabitants had to flee in exodus towards the city of Gela.”

The votive deposit, which would appear to have been arranged above the destruction levels of the house, may tell the story of the time when its objects were recovered by the Akragantines after the destruction. To define with certainty the function of the interesting deposit will require further research, paying close attention to the stratigraphic connections between the deposit and the living and abandonment levels of the house.

The Valley of the Temples forms part of the ancient city of Agrigentum, situated in the province of Agrigento, Sicily. Since 1997, the Valley of the Temples (covering 3212 acres) has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

According to the Greek historian, Thucydides, Agrigentum was founded around 582-580 BC by Greek colonists from Gela in eastern Sicily, with further colonists from Crete and Rhodes. It was routed by the forces of Carthaginian general Himilko in 406 B.C. Agrigento’s residents fled to nearby Gela when Himilko sacked their city, but then he took Gela too. All of the Greek colonies on Sicily fell to Himilko and were made vassals of Carthage. Punic primacy would not last long, however. Timoleon of Corinth defeated Carthage in Sicily and liberated the Greek cities in 399 B.C.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[wandering-italy]

Temple of Concordia, one of best preserved Ancient Greek temples in the world.

Agrigento, Italy

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Valle dei Templi (Valley of the Temples) in Agrigento, Sicilia, ITALIA

[cardamomdream]

Valley of Temples, Italy.

[timmurleyart]

115 degrees on the rocks today at incredible Valle dei Templi. 🪨🌞🇮🇹

[saltcharms]

[travelella]

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

Ricardo Gomez Angel

[gravygod]

[thatshowthingstarted]

'Tempio della Concordia,' 1955,

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy,

Photo by Konrad Helbig

[violetmoondaughter]

Last week I visited the Archeological area of Agrigento in Sicily. 

In the valley of temples there is an ancient spot dedicated to the chthonic cult of Demeter and Persephone. The area, located near the Gate V, was used to celebrate the Thesmophoria, the ancient women celebration of fertility in honor of Demeter and Persephone. 

The area is formed by remains of the temple dedicated to the chthonic deities and the ancient gate from which women entered the sanctuary to gather in the celebration of Thesmophoria. Near the temple there are wells and passages leading to underground caves where the worshippers threw their offerings, including piglets used in the festivities in honor of Demeter and kore.   

Within the Agrigento area there are two other sites (that I couldn’t visit) dedicated to the worship of Demeter and Persephone located on the slopes of the Athenian cliff (Rupe Atenea). These are the ancient temple of Demeter, later converted into a church dedicated to St. Biagio, and an older rock sanctuary of pre-Greek origin. The sanctuary, completely excavated within the hill, was probably used by indigenous pre-Greek peoples and was dedicated to a fertility deity later assimilated to Demeter or a nymph cult. 

[poet-of-the-night]

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicilia.

[blueiscoool]

A Statue of Atlas Emerges From the Ruins of Sicily’s Ancient Temple of Zeus

In the fifth century B.C.E., 38 looming sculptures of the Titan stood guard at the structure.

After 20 years of restorations, a 26-foot-tall statue of Atlas is once again standing guard at the ancient Temple of Zeus in the city of Agrigento (once called Akragas) in Sicily.

The statue, created in the fifth century B.C.E., was one of roughly 38 similar Atlas monuments built into the temple. They stood in a line between columns with their arms raised, appearing to hold the holy structure upright.

In Greek mythology, Atlas was a Titan who rebelled in a war against Zeus. As punishment, he was forced to hold up the sky on his shoulders. Unlike the mythological Atlas, however, the stone likenesses were unable to hold up Zeus’ temple forever. Ultimately, earthquakes and other events caused the structure to crumble.

For many years, pieces of the statues were scattered around the site amongst other ancient ruins. In 1812, Charles Robert Cockerell, a prominent British architect, first identified one of the Titan’s giant sandstone heads during a visit to Agrigento. A century later, in 1920, archaeologist Pirro Marconi became the first person to attempt to reconstruct one of the Atlases, which is now housed in the Archaeological Museum of Agrigento.

The seeds of the current project began in 2004, when the Valley of the Temples park conducted a sweeping research campaign at the site. Experts cataloged 90 fragments from at least eight Atlas statues.

“The idea was to reposition one of these Atlases in front of the temple so that it may serve as a guardian of the structure dedicated to the father of the gods,” Roberto Sciarratta, the director of the Valley of the Temples park, tells the Guardian’s Lorenzo Tondo.

But rebuilding Atlas in a standing position was particularly challenging, as researchers couldn’t simply stack the pieces of the statue on top of one another. Instead, they attached the fragments to metal shelves, which are supported by a larger metal structure.

The restoration has faced scrutiny ever since officials first announced it several years ago.

“No archaeologist would endorse the use of ancient sculpture, no matter how fragmentary, to create a modern sculpture, even if the purpose is to highlight the site’s antiquity,” C. Brian Rose, an archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told the New York Times’ Franz Lidz in 2020.

But officials like Renato Schifani, the Sicilian governor, think that the statue’s resurrection is a commendable feat.

“Today is an important day for Agrigento and for all of Sicily,” says Schifani in a statement, per Google Translate. “This stone giant of ancient Akragas, which after many years of studies and research we can observe in its natural position, is the heart of an important museum project of the entire area of ​​the Temple of Zeus."

By Julia Binswanger.

[wandering-italy]

Mosaic floor of an Ancient Roman townhouse in Agrigentum.

Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily

Dec. 2019

[in-this-light-on-this-evening]

Valley of the Temples - Agrigento, Italy 🏛️

[oldsardens]

Alphonse Dupont - Agrigento, view of the Valley of Temples

[charminglyantiquated]

Do you have any "must see's" or cool spots in Sicily? I am going next month with my mom and Grandma and was wondering if you have any recommendations. Thanks!

Oh that sounds like an incredible trip!

Speaking personally, I love love love Siracusa! The historical center, Ortigia, is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been - white stone streets and pink buildings and lemon trees, it took my breath away the first time I saw it in sunlight, and its history is incredible. It's a little out of the way (1hr from Catania) but I think it's worth seeing for at least a day or two, especially if the big cities of Palermo and/or Catania become overwhelming. If you do visit:

Bar Midolo makes the best aranicine al ragu I've ever had (and ArancinaGlutenFree makes gf/vegan arancine if you've got dietary restrictions!)

Fresh blood oranges at the market. There's nothing better in the world.

There's an archeological park nearby (Parco Archeologico Neapolis with a Greek theatre, Roman amphitheater, the Ear of Dionysus cave, and some other interesting sites which is well worth seeing!

Get cocktails or coffee/tea at Biblios Cafe - it's a bookstore/bar with the absolute most relaxed vibes, explicitly lgbtq friendly, I miss it very much

The walk along the western side, along the waterfront and up to the spring of Arethusa, is beautiful.

Out of Siracusa, the Valley of Temples in Agrigento is hands down stunning. If you see nothing else, this is the place.

I don't have too much to add for Catania or Palermo, as I haven't spent much time in either, but I do remember in Palermo the Capuchin Catacombs, and Kepalle, another arancine place! Cefalu near Palermo was beautiful as well.

And last is Taormina, which I've never been to but dearly want to - for that reason I can't offer anything specific about it, but it's on my own bucket list!

Safe travels, I hope you have a wonderful time!