Pantalica

King Hyblon’s kingdom: Pantalica, between history and legend

One of Sicily’s main archaeological areas, Pantalica is a site in the province of Syracuse located on the plateau of the Hyblaean Mountains, between the municipalities of Ferla and Sortino.
In the first half of the 13th century BC, the coastal townships of the Thapsos Culture suddenly abandoned all the villages on the coast due to frequent raids and the arrival of new populations from the sea (Sicels, Ausones, Morgetes and other Italic populations).
The native inhabitants found refuge inland, in Pantalica, a natural fortress bordered to the north by the Calcinara stream and to the south by the Anapo river.
In the lush greenery of Pantalica, among ancient houses and funeral chambers, legend blends with history. According to some scholars the ancient city of Herbessus, an important township in ancient Sicily, can be clearly identified with Pantalica, a name that dates back to the Byzantine or Saracen era. According to others, Pantalica corresponds to ancient Hybla, a Sicilian kingdom that from the 13th to 8th centuries BC extended from the Anapo valley to Syracuse.
Veduta Pantalica
Pantalica was probably a rich, densely populated metropolis. All that remains of this mythical city is the immense necropolis of around five thousand cave tombs , arranged along the slope of the mountain and dug into the rock for up to seven stories. The ancient city consisted of a series of elliptical huts made of straw and branches and developed around a large palace, the remains of which have survived to this day. This palace was the Anaktoron , the likely home of the legendary King Hyblon. The archaeological excavations conducted by Paolo Orsi brought to light artefacts dating back to two different historical periods: a prehistoric, Siculan or pre-Hellenic age, and a historical age. According to the famous Italian archaeologist, four necropolises are found on the site: the north-western necropolises dating back to a period between 1270 and 1000 BC; the necropolis of Cavetta; the southern necropolises; and the necropolises of Filiporto, dating back to 850 BC.
Traces of the prehistoric settlement of Pantalica stopped abruptly in the 8th century BC then reappeared in the Middle Ages, around the 6th century AD, in the Byzantine period, when the raids of barbarians, pirates then Muslims in the 9th century forced the populations to seek safety in this inaccessible place.
The pre-existing caves of the ancient necropolis were used and enlarged, transformed into houses, hermitages or churches, such as the Grotta del Crocifisso, the Church of San Micidiario or that of San Nicolocchio where you can still see traces of ancient frescoes.

Piazza del Duomo, a sacred place of the ancient Greeks

The functions of Castello Maniace

The Euryalus Fortress

The Spanish fortification

The Gladiator performances

The Altar of Hieron II: Blood and fire place

Where seas and civilisations meet

Legends and magic echoes in the Latomie of Syracuse

The architecture of the Piazza

Inside the Cathedral of Ortygia

Ortygia. Venus rising from the waters of the port

The cultural significance of tragedy

The catacombs of San Giovanni

The Venationes

The Museion and the Grotta del Ninfeo

The Greek Theatre of Syracuse

The Jews, a wandering people

The Cathedral of Syracuse

Temple of Apollo

The Church of St. Lucia to the Abbey

The Senatorial Palace

The Church of San Giovanni alle Catacombe

King Hyblon’s kingdom: Pantalica, between history and legend

Neapolis from past to present

Pantalica: where nature and history merge

The Athenaion of the tyrant Gelon

Byzantine Pantalica

Giudecca, the hidden Jewish heart of Syracuse

Crypt of San Marciano

Syracuse during the tyranny of Dionysius

Roman Syracuse, a military power thanks to the genius of Archimedes

The Dionysian Walls: a masterpiece of Greek engineering

Castello Maniace

The Culture of Pantalica

The Roman Amphitheatre

The Ear of Dionysius and the Grotta dei Cordari

Traces of Christianity in Syracuse