Tag: archaeology
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Still Hosting Shows after 2300 Years
Taormina’s Ancient Theater, or Teatro Antico, is outstanding. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to have seen Elton John perform a 2.5 hour concert here. What a night! With the Ionian Sea and the Bay of Schisò as the backdrop along with the real showstopper, Mount Etna, fuming to the south, few other views are…
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Sicily’s Modest Venus
Found in the Acradina quarter of Siracusa in 1804, the Venus Landolina is named for the archeologist, Saverio Landolina (1743-1814), who discovered the statue. Made from Greek marble in the 2nd century AD, the Roman era work is a copy of a Greek era work from the 2nd century BC. Because it is an unclothed…
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Look History in the Eyes
This theatrical mask (with wig originally fixed to the holes) from the beginning of the 5th century BC is on display at the archaeological museum in Siracusa, the Museo Orsi. This and thousands of other artifacts in this outstanding museum tell Sicily’s 3000 years of human history.
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How are the Acoustics?
The Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionisio) is an enormous cave in the archaeological area in Siracusa. It was a prison for centuries. Legend is that the tyrant Dionysius could hear prisoners’ whispers utilizing the former quarry’s acoustics. On the morning of Day 8 of September’s Savoring Sicily tour, we’ll see how true that is!…
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Antelope Roam Here, sort of
The Villa Romana del Casale may not be as well-known as other UNESCO sites in Sicily, but once you’ve seen it for yourself its magnificence and historical significance will astound you. We’ll tour the sprawling estate on Day 5 of Experience Sicily’s Savoring Sicily tour (Sept. 22 to Oct. 4). I say, “sprawling” because so…
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Today, Wear Comfortable Shoes
On Day 4 of Savoring Sicily, you’ll start the morning by greeting the gods at Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples. First stop, the 5th century B.C. Temple of Juno (or Hera, if you are Greek!). This magnificent monument is just one of seven in the UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans 2 kilometers. So wear…
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Early Bronze Age Sicily
From the Museo Archeologico Paolo Orsi in Siracusa, this door slab with carved spiral, anthropomorphic motifs is from the early Bronze Age. It’s dated to be from sometime between the 22nd and 15th century B.C. and was collected from a tomb in Castelluccio, an archaeological area between Noto and Palazzolo Acreida in southeastern Sicily. Yes,…
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A Bust of Persephone
Clay busts of Kore/Persephone, such as this one pictured from the archaeological museum in Aidone (Enna Province), have been found throughout Sicily, proving the significance of the goddess and her story. In the 5th century to the 3rd century B.C., for example, women devotees prayed to Kore for healthful fertility and protection during various stages…
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Our May 2016 Tour: Tall, Massive, and Handsome
The Temple of Heracles (also known as the Temple of Hercules) of Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples possesses eight reconstructed, massive Doric-style columns. Built in the late 6th century BC, it is considered the first temple to have been built of the seven that we know of at the Valley of the Temples. Valley of…