{"id":67581,"date":"2015-07-21T20:59:22","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T19:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=67581"},"modified":"2026-10-12T17:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T16:58:09","slug":"temple-of-the-dioscuri-in-agrigento-and-western-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/temple-of-the-dioscuri-in-agrigento-and-western-sector","title":{"rendered":"Temple of the Dioscuri in Agrigento and western sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

To the west of the Temple of Zeus<\/a> extends a residential sector<\/strong>, followed by a sacred area up to Gate V<\/strong>, then the sacred area of the Chthonian Deities<\/strong> and finally at the end of the hill an archaic sacred area<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Sector between the Temple of Zeus and Porta V<\/h2>\n

To the west of the Temple of Zeus extends a residential sector followed by a sacred area that precedes Gate V.
The regular urban layout is crossed by north-south axes that intersect the great east-west artery (plateia) connected to Gate V. From the first half of the 5th century BC date mainly buildings of a sacred or public character, such as meeting halls or porticoes (stoai), while residences date back to the second half of the 5th century BC.<\/p>\n

\"Tholos,<\/a>

Tholos, western sector<\/p><\/div>\n

A long construction (stoa) separates this sector from the neighboring sacred complex. This sacred area is delimited by the two arms of a long L-shaped portico, to the west, by Gate V, and to the south by the rocky escarpment along which the line of fortifications ran.
The remains of a small temple (A) can be recognized to the west, of simple form, which appeared around the middle of the 6th century BC. The forecourt dates from the second half of the 5th century. A sacellum was walled up, and the level of the forecourt was raised again and two cubic altars, each in an enclosure, were built.
To the north-east of the area, the remains of the L-shaped portico can be seen, erected in the Hellenistic period (second half of the 3rd century BC), and a part of the 2nd century BC whose north arm extends over the ruins of an archaic rectangular building, interpreted as a meeting hall. The construction of the circular building or tholos, perhaps a sacred building with a central altar, also dates back to this latter phase (2nd century BC).
From around the end of the 3rd century BC date a series of small sacred chapels leaning against the external north wall of the portico. This portico, with rooms, basins and fountains, has been interpreted as a place of rest and consumption of sacred meals.<\/p>\n

To the west of the zone, the area of Gate V is notable for the imposing collapse of the side walls.<\/p>\n

Powered by GetYourGuide<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

Sanctuary of the Greek Chthonian Deities<\/h2>\n
\"Sanctuary<\/a>

Sanctuary of the Chthonian Deities<\/p><\/div>\n

It is the most important group of sacred buildings dedicated to the cult of the chthonian deities, Demeter and Kore<\/strong>. It was delimited by a peribolos wall (enclosure), preserved only in the western part. It was in use from the archaic period to the Hellenistic period.
To the middle of the 6th century BC date the two open-air enclosures, equipped with one or more internal altars, intended for ritual manifestations linked to the particular nature of the cult: a rectangular enclosure, with a building with an internal circular altar; an enclosure further south, divided in two, with two internal altars, one circular and the other rectangular.
To the same period, or shortly after, date the numerous circular and quadrangular altars of the area and two small tripartite temples with pronaos, and a third further east.<\/p>\n

Temple of the Dioscuri and Temple L <\/h2>\n
\"Temple<\/a>

Temple of the Dioscuri<\/p><\/div>\n

It is assumed that the two temples were dedicated to Demeter and Kore<\/strong>. Around 450 BC, a new peripteral temple was erected in the area, called the Temple of the Dioscuri<\/strong> (or of Castor and Pollux, the sons of Zeus and the queen of Sparta) of which the north-western corner is preserved with a partial reconstruction between 1836 and 1856, of which 4 columns re-erected out of the original 34. It is a Doric temple, hexastyle, with thirteen columns on the long sides, measuring 13.40 \u00d7 31 meters.
Certain architectural elements date back to a restoration of the late Hellenistic period, perhaps to the 2nd century BC.<\/p>\n

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