Agrigento Valley of the Temples
Valle dei Templi · Akragas · Agrigentum
Archaeic-Classical Greek 6th–5th c. BCE, peak 480–406 BCE·Greek (Doric Greeks from Gela/Rhodes-Crete)·🇮🇹 Sicily, Italy
About
About Agrigento Valley of the Temples
Ancient Greek Akragas (founded 580 BCE, pop. 100k at peak) ridge with 7 Doric temples (520–430 BCE) including Temple of Concordia (440 BCE) best preserved Greek temple per W. Dörpfeld – 6x13 columns intact with peristasis. Also massive Olympieion with 7.7 m Atlas telamons, and 50 ha necropolis. UNESCO 1997.
Why it mattersMost extensive Greek temple ensemble outside mainland with exceptionally preserved Concordia
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Olympieion telamon interpretation – structural vs symbolic
- 02Akragantine wealth source grain vs sulfur
Theories
- 01Temple alignment astronomical thesis
- 02Carthaginian destruction layer dating
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 520–430 BCE temples, Concordia 440 BCE, Olympieion 480 BCE post-Himera
- Period
- Archaeic-Classical Greek 6th–5th c. BCE, peak 480–406 BCE
- Culture
- Greek (Doric Greeks from Gela/Rhodes-Crete)
- Purpose
- Wealthy grain empire city temples and agora
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
580 BCE
Akragas founded
480 BCE
Olympieion begun after victory over Carthage
406 BCE
Carthaginian siege destroys city
1926
Pirro Marconi restorations
On the ground
Structures & features
37.2897° N · 13.5900° E · 120 m · 3 mapped features
Temple of Concordia
temple440 BCE 6x13 Doric with intact entablature, cella and peristasis
37.2895° N · 13.5896° ETemple of Olympian Zeus (Olympieion)
templeMassive 112 m pseudoperistasis with 7.7 m Atlas telamons; unfinished
37.2912° N · 13.5860° ETemple of Juno (Hera Lacinia)
temple460 BCE 6x13 atop east cliff with altar
37.2880° N · 13.6005° E
Gallery