Tag: ancient greece
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Ancient Ballerina
Dancing women figurines from the 3rd century, BC; from Siracusa’s Museo Archeologico regionale “Paolo Orsi.”
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Temple of an Unknown Deity
Thought to have been built by a Elymian-Sicilian who was influenced by Greek architects, this Doric temple at Segesta was constructed between 430 and 420 BC. Scholars believe that it never had a roof put on its 36 limestone columns–perhaps the reason why it is so well-preserved. Very little is understood about for what the…
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Castle of Love
Erice boasts a 12th century castle—Il Castello di Venere or the Castle of Venus—that was built on top of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to the goddess of love. However, before the Roman iteration and the still standing current Norman castle, centuries before, the site was dedicated to the ancient Elimi tribe’s mother goddess of…
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Illuminating
On this, the longest night of the year, I think about something beautiful…. In Agrigento, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Valley of the Temples is magnificent to see. The individual temples, like this one, the 5th century BC Temple to Castor and Pollux, are illuminated at night for a breathtaking effect.
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Here Lies History
In 1955, archaeologists identified Morgantina, an ancient Greek settlement outside of the town of Aidone in Central Sicily. Morgantina was founded in 850 BC and was abandoned in the 2nd century BC after the Romans destroyed it. It is still being excavated today. The findings of the archaeologists may be seen in the outstanding museum…
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A Powerful Impression
At the Temple of Heracles in Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, you’ll find eight reconstructed Doric-style columns from the massive 6th century BC structure. Like the Greek god for which it’s named, the sacred edifice leaves a powerful impression.
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Night Vision
Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples’ Tempio della Concordia at night.
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An Offering to the Goddess
This terracotta figure from Siracusa’s archaeological museum is one of hundreds of examples of statuettes found around the island of Ortigia that is attributed to the cult of Demeter and Kore (Persephone). I find this divine figure especially interesting because more recent images of Santa Lucia, the patron saint of Siracusa who is celebrated in…
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Triskeles
It’s believed that this object (a bowl?) was created by an artisan near Gela in the end of the 7th century BC. Its details recall those found on the Isle of Rhodes. The striking triskeles at the center of the design demonstrates the association of the ancient 3-legged symbol with Sicily. It was found in…