Sam, I am: A Stroll Through Ancient Greece at the Valley of the Temples

Agrigento, Sicily

The ancient city of Akragas was located along the top of a ridge between the confluence of the Hypsas and Akragas rivers in Sicily and is now known as Agrigento. Akragas while claiming the legendary Daedalus (builder of the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete) as it's founder, is considered to have been established by a group of Rhodian and Cretan colonists from the city of Gela circa 582 B.C. However, excavations indicate that a 7th century BC Greek settlement has existed at this location. Typical of classic Greek settlements, Akragas was built on the flanks of a hill by the coast. This allowed Akragas to expand from the original acropolis and prosper within a very short time after colonization. Defensive walls were built to reinforce the natural protection of the difficult topography circa 570-555 BC. Under Phalaris and Theron, the city expanded its territory and grew rapidly to a population of between 100,000 to 200,000 inhabitants, becoming one of the richest and most famous of the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia (an area in southern Italy in the vicinity of the Gulf of Taranto). After the period of tyranny under Phalaris and Theron, Akragas flourished as a democracy known for its high-quality wine, olives and horses. The city was sacked and completely destroyed by the Carthaginians in 406 BC, never to regain its former glory. The city became a prize fought over by Romans and Carthaginians, falling to Roman conquest in 262 BC and becoming incorporated into the Roman Empire in 210 BC. The decline of the Western Roman Empire and the ascendancy of Christianity led to depopulation and impoverishment of the city. The older quarters were abandoned and the remaining population clustering on the hill. The settlement during it's decline was successively occupied by the Arabs in 829 and by the Normans in 1086. The current population of Agrigento is approximately 60,000, a shadow of it's former self.

Map of Valley of the Temples
http://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/ with parking lot information added

Ancient Akragas covered a large area, much of which still remains unexcavated but is exemplified by the Valley of the Temples. The Valley of the Temples covers most of the built-up part of the ancient city and its public monuments on the south side of the ancient city (and modern city of Agrigento). Seven Greek temples in the Doric style were constructed during the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The excavated and partially restored temples within this archaeological site constitute some of the largest and best-preserved ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece and is a listed World Heritage Site. The most impressive remains are those of the temples built during the reign of Thero and after. There are eight temples (and various other remains) built between about 510 BC and 430 BC include the Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Heracles, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hephaestos, the Temple of Demeter, and the Temple of Asclepius (the God of Medicine).

As per most sites of interest in Sicily, finding and following signage can be a challenge. Our trip to the Valley of the Temples took us through Agrigento, based on GPS and signage. At the time of our visit to the Valley of the Temples we were still GPS novices and were operating under the mistaken impression that the GPS would provide the quickest and most efficient routes (See recalculating is a four letter word Post). There is no need to drive through Agrigento to go to the Valley of the Temples, so save yourself the aggravation and use what we would call the bypass road. We parked in the lower entrance parking lot and took a taxi to the upper entrance near the The temple of Juno. It was definitely worth the money (5 euros per person) as we walked the route downhill back to the vehicle in 30°C temperatures (end of May). About the site, all I can say is wow and definitely worth the visit. Enjoy the photographs and if you visit Sicily, a stroll through ancient Greece in the Valley of the Temples should definitely be on your "must see" list. Enjoy.

Video from the Valley of the Temples May 2014

Valley of the Temples

Photographs from the Valley of the Temples May 2014

The temple of Juno (Hera Lacinia) was built in the Doric style (450-440 B.C.) and rests upon a base with four steps and has six columns at the front and back, and thirteen along the sides.

Temple of Hera

The Temple of Concordia was built in 440-430 BC on a solid platform to overcome the uneven terrain. This is one of the best preserved Doric temples in the world, due in part to alterations undertaken in the 4th Century (AD) when it became a Christian Basilica.

Temple of Concordia

This modern bronze (Fallen Icarus) by Polish artist Igot Mitoraj can be seen in the Valley of the Temples, near the Temple of Concordia. Just my luck, a couple of large tour groups arrived making it impossible to get a good shot with the temple in the background.

Fallen Icarus

This is the oldest temple in the Valley of Temples, dating to the end of the 6th century B.C. The temple was famous for its statue of Hercules, which the notorious art thief Caius Verres attempted to steal for his governor's palace around 73 BC. Plans of the raid became know, and local citizens overpowered the the Roman soldiers.

Temple of Heracles (Hercules)

The Temple of the Dioscuri was built at the end of the 5th century BC in homage to the twins Castor and Pollux. The only remains of the temple are four columns, which were rebuilt in the 19th Century.

Temple of Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux)

A view of the Mediterranean Sea through the fortifications for Akragas. This is probably the remains of an arcosolium type of burial chamber that was cut into the walls of the Greek fortifications.

View through the Fortifications

Christian burial ground used between the 3rd and 6th centuries.

Paleochristian Necropolis

Ironically I suspect she does not realize that her rest spot today was in actuality someone's final resting place. This would have been part of the Byzantine Tombs that were cut into the fortifications between the 3rd and 6th centuries AD.