VALLEY OF TEMPLES
Situated in the province of
Agrigento, the Valley of Temples is a complex with seven Doric
temples, declared by UNESCO as a World Patrimony of Humanity
in 1998.
The following are the main temples:
The Olympic Temple of Zeus, constructed in the 5th Century
in honour of the God after the victory of the Carthaginians
in the Battle of Imera in 480 BC. The same Carthaginian prisoners
worked to construct the Temple, one of the largest ever erected
by man.
The Temple is characterised by the presence of the Talamoni,
colossal anthropomorphic statues.
The Temple of Giunone (5th Century BC) was used to celebrate
weddings. It was burnt down in 406 BC by the Carthaginians.
The Temple of the Concordia (5th Century BC) is the most well
preserved.
The Temple of Dioscuri or Castore and Polluce. Only four columns
remain.
The Temple of Eracle is the oldest. It was destroyed by an
earthquake and today stands with eight columns.
The Temple of Vulcano (5th Century BC), sadly very badly damaged.
The Temple of Esculapio, was dedicated to the pilgrimage of
the sick, who came to ask for healing.
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