{"id":67584,"date":"2015-08-21T14:27:25","date_gmt":"2015-08-21T13:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/?p=67584"},"modified":"2026-10-12T09:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T08:57:14","slug":"temple-of-hercules-in-agrigento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sicile-sicilia.net\/en\/temple-of-hercules-in-agrigento","title":{"rendered":"Temple of Hercules in Agrigento"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although its remains are more modest than those of other monuments in the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento<\/a> (ancient Akragas), the Temple of Hercules<\/strong>, in the archaic Doric style, is considered the oldest sanctuary on the site. Its construction dates back to the end of the 6th century BCE, a dating based on the analysis of its architectural style and proportions. Its identification rests on a passage by Cicero in In Verrem (II, 4, 94), where he mentions a temple of Hercules particularly venerated in Agrigento.<\/p>\n

Presentation and historical overview<\/h2>\n
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Remains of the Temple of Hercules in Agrigento<\/p><\/div>\n

Built on a three-level crepidoma, the building had dimensions of approximately 67 \u00d7 25 m, with a Doric colonnade of six columns on the facade and fifteen along the long sides. At the eastern end are the remains of the great altar associated with the sanctuary. Excavations have also brought to light terracotta antefixes depicting lion heads, attributed to workshops active at the end of the 6th century BCE, testifying to the archaic decoration of the temple.<\/p>\n

In a later period, probably under Roman rule, the cella was restructured into three distinct spaces. <\/p>\n

During the restorations carried out in the first half of the 20th century under the direction of Pirro Marconi (1924-1925), nine of the original thirty-eight columns were reassembled and re-erected using the technique of anastylosis, making it possible to partially restore the elevation of the peristyle.<\/p>\n

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Gallery<\/h2>\n\n\n