The public places of Agrigentum

The centre of politics in Agrigentum

The places of Akragas that suffered most from the arrival of the Latin conquerors were those where the city’s political life took place, because of the cultural differences between the ancient Romans and Greeks: the advent of the Romans marked a new era for the politics of Agrigentum; the changes in the use of public buildings for this purpose constitute irrefutable proof.
There were substantially two places of political debate in ancient Akragas, located in the area known as Poggio di San Nicola, where today there is also the Regional Archaeological Museum “Pietro Griffo”: the ekklesiasterion , on the south side, and the bouleuterion the north terrace.
Il centro della politica ad AgrigentumAs for the first building, the seat of the assemblies where Greek citizens with voting rights met, it was immediately abandoned and replaced by a small temple with an altar known as the Oratorio di Falaride (Oratory of Phalaris), although the place has no connection with the terrible tyrant of ancient Akragas. The bouleuterion, on the other hand, a space used for the council of the great thinkers of Greek cities, was reused for city senate meetings.
Cicero wrote that this political body was composed of the most notable citizens of Agrigentum in terms of wealth, authority and power relating to political clientèle, and its composition was regulated by a law of Publius Scipio .

Mens sana in corpore sano: the gymnasium of Agrigento

The Living Almond Museum

The Oratory of Phalaris

An exceptional discovery: the thermal baths of Agrigentum

The theatre of origins

A Sanctuary for the Latin gods

Cicero’s account: Agrigentum in In Verrem

The centre of politics in Agrigentum

Moments of leisure: the theatre

Roman affairs

The Kolymbetra Garden

The tomb of Theron

From Akragas to Agrigentum

The sarcophagus of the Child

Hellenistic heritage on the streets of Agrigentum

The domus, guardians of private life

The gods of Agrigento

The driver of Agrigentum’s well-being

The Hellenistic-Roman quarter

The Punic Wars and the final conquest of Akragas

The wellness centres of the Romans

The ancient port of Agrigentum

Works for the muses: the mosaics of the Hellenistic-Roman quarter

Politics comparison: Akragas and Agrigentum

The forum in the city of the Akragantines

The Roman necropolis

The Romans settle in Agrigentum

The life of young people in Roman times

Vegetation in the Gardens

The provincial layout of Sicily

The cult of the Emperor

Breathing in world heritage together