The monumentalization of Akragas

The Temple of Concordia

The Temple of Concordia is one of the best preserved temples from Greek antiquity. The building, of Doric order, dates back to 440-430 BC. Its spectacular state of preservation is due to its transformation into a Christian church around the 6th century AD; its name, however, was incorrectly attributed .Il Tempio della Concordia fronte
The temple was probably dedicated to a couple of Greek gods who some unsubstantiated hypotheses identify as the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux.

The temple of Concordia
The temple of Concordia (440-430 b.C.) is one of the best preserved temples of Greek antiquity. The front of the structure is intact in its parts. Six columns rest on a base of four steps and they rise, slender, for approximately 6,5 metres. The stems are solcated by vertical grooves. At The top of the columns are the historic capitels, which support the arithrave in turn surmounted by the frieze, on which alternate metopes and triglyphs. Above the frieze, the cornice protrudes, and above it the pediment with the tympanum develops. Like the other temples of Agrigento, the one of Concordia was built with the local limestone, thus presenting the colour yellow-ocra typical of the territory.

The Temple of Concordia measures 40 metres long by 17 metres wide. Though it does not have the colossal dimensions of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, it is the only one of the temples in the Valley to have its two pediments and the elements of the trabeation almost entirely preserved .Tempio della Concordia scaleThese are supported by six columns on the short sides and thirteen on the long ones, which rest on a basement of four steps.
The interior was divided into three rooms: the pronaos , the cella (shrine) and the opisthodomos .Next to the entrance to the cella, the stairs leading to the roof are still preserved.
Tempio della Concordia
Like the other sacred buildings, the Temple of Concordia was richly decorated with bright colours. The columns were covered with white stucco, while the trabeation had plant elements and geometric designs painted green, red and blue. As per tradition, the metopes were painted with mythological scenes, and the roof was covered with marble tiles! Inside, in the upper part of the structure, the recesses on the wall where the roof beams were inserted are still preserved.
There is a sheepfold near the temple that is home to some Girgentana goats .

The Temple of Demeter

Sacrifices for the goddesses that made the fields fertile

The Temple of Asclepius

Reinforcement of natural ramparts

Vegetation in the Gardens

The lively decorations of the temple

The sanctuary of the chthonic deities

Theron, tyrant of the arts and victories

Phalaris, the terrible tyrant

The Temple of Hera Lacinia

The Twelve Labours of Heracles

Akragas in the beginning

The Kolymbetra Garden

The walls of Akragas in the fifth century BC

Empedocles, the political philosopher

The cult of Demeter and Persephone

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

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

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

The Temple of Concordia

The Eleusinian mysteries

The Akragas building sites

The Temple of Heracles

The most beautiful city of mortals