The monumentalization of Akragas

The lively decorations of the temple

Thanks to the detailed descriptions of the Temple of Olympian Zeus left to us by Diodorus Siculus and Polybius, it was possible to speculate about reproductions not only of the temple’s structure, but also of the decorations that embellished it during its heyday.
The temple’s pediments housed the narration of two different events: on the east and main side, a Gigantomachy was depicted, the war between the rebellious giants and the gods; on the west side, the Greeks’ capture of Troy. There were two in the round sculptural groups, probably in white marble, which were reminiscent of the white columns.
Some unconfirmed hypotheses suggest that the Agrigento Warrior , whose marble fragments were found between the area of the temples of Zeus and Heracles, could have been part of one of the two majestic sculptural groups.
As for all the temples in the Valley, it is reasonable to suggest that the Temple of Zeus did not have the yellow ochre colour of calcarenite typical of buildings in the Agrigento area, but rather was colourful and conveyed elegance and vivacity. From the reproductions made by the Archaeological Museum we see that the columns would have been white in colour, as were the telamons, while higher up, on the frieze, the triglyphs were the classic blue, completed by a red strip at the bottom.

A monument for the victory over Carthage: the Temple of Olympian Zeus

The walls of Akragas in the fifth century BC

The sanctuary of the chthonic deities

The Akragas building sites

The Sanctuary of Asclepius: a place of welcome for the sick

The Temple of Hera Lacinia

The Eleusinian mysteries

Vegetation in the Gardens

From pagan cults to Christian worship: the Church of St. Gregory

The Kolymbetra Garden

Reinforcement of natural ramparts

Theron, tyrant of the arts and victories

The Temple of Asclepius

The Temple of Concordia

The Temple of Heracles

The Twelve Labours of Heracles

The most beautiful city of mortals

The lively decorations of the temple

Phalaris, the terrible tyrant

Empedocles, the political philosopher

The Temple of Demeter

Akragas in the beginning

Sacrifices for the goddesses that made the fields fertile

The cult of Demeter and Persephone