The history of its ancient greatness has made Syracuse a mythical place, a city where every corner slips into the past and transmits memory through the indelible testimony of ancient civilisations. Thanks to a memorable exploration in archaeological history conducted by
Paolo Orsi
between 1912 and 1917 in the area of Piazza del Duomo (and later in 1999 by the archaeologist Giuseppe Voza), numerous findings have emerged, such as terracotta objects, sculptures and architectural remains, which testify to an intense presence in this area already in prehistoric times.
Some of these finds, bearers of mysterious stories and meanings, have provided valuable insight into the habits of the ancient Greeks: for example, their
gastronomic culture
, their table manners and the
games
that took place during a
symposium
.
Black lines made with molten lead can be found along the pavement that covers the square.
They form two concentric rectangles and indicate the existence underground of traces of the oldest sacred building in Greek Syracuse.
In fact, this was the home of an òikos from the 8th century BC: a house of worship, built in raw brick or wood, the perimeter of which has been identified.
The structure was later incorporated into another Templar building from the 7th century BC, symbolised today by the larger rectangle.
The first concern of the Greeks when they founded a city was to consecrate the land by erecting a building and making a sacrifice. It is possible that this small temple represents the Corinthians’ act of founding the Syracusan settlement.
Lastly, the square’s function as a sacred place is shown by the construction of two monumental temples: one Ionic, the
Arthemision
, and one Doric, the Athenaion, later transformed into a Catholic church.
