Akrai — Colony of Syracuse
Archaic–Hellenistic (664 BCE)·Syracusan Greek·🇬🇷 Sicily, Greece
About
About Akrai — Colony of Syracuse
Akrai — Colony of Syracuse in Sicily, Greece is a Archaic–Hellenistic (664 BCE) ancient-city attributed to Syracusan Greek. Syracusan hill colony controlling interior with Doric Aphrodite temple, theatre 600 seats, bouleuterion, laterite quarries. Intact 3rd c. BCE theatre cut in rock with 12 rows, Aphrodision and processional street.
Why it mattersType-site for Syracusan Greek ancient-city studies
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Phasing sequence
- 02Function and cult identity
Theories
- 01Panhellenic competition centre
- 02Colonial foundation model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 664 BCE
- Period
- Archaic–Hellenistic (664 BCE)
- Culture
- Syracusan Greek
- Purpose
- Syracusan hill colony controlling interior with Doric Aphrodite temple, theatre 600 seats, bouleuterion, laterite quarries
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 664 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1880 CE
Systematic excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
37.0580° N · 14.9020° E · 770 m · 4 mapped features
Akrai — Colony of Syracuse — Agora / Forum
agoraPublic square and stoa
37.0582° N · 14.9021° EAkrai — Colony of Syracuse — Circuit Walls
wallsCity wall circuit and gates
37.0578° N · 14.9022° EAkrai — Colony of Syracuse — Sanctuary Quarter
sanctuaryTemple or shrine quarter
37.0585° N · 14.9018° EAkrai — Colony of Syracuse — Necropolis Extension
necropolisBurial extension beyond core
37.0576° N · 14.9018° E