Sicily's Temple Glows at Sunset

The exceptional preservation of the Temple of Concordia isn't just a matter of luck; it was converted into a Christian basilica dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul in the 6th century. This conversion saved it from the destruction that befell many other pagan sites. In 1748, the temple was restored to its original classical form. The name "Concordia" is a historical misnomer, attributed to the temple due to a nearby Latin inscription dedicated to the Roman goddess of harmony, which had no actual connection to the structure. The true deity to which the temple was originally dedicated remains unknown. The Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world, sprawling over 1,300 hectares. The term "valley" is misleading, as the temples are actually situated on a ridge outside the modern city of Agrigento. This archaeological park showcases the remains of seven major Greek temples built during the 5th and 6th centuries BC when Agrigento, then known as Akragas, was a powerful and wealthy Greek colony. The oldest temple on the site is the Temple of Heracles, dating back to around 510 BC. Other significant structures within the site include the Temple of Juno, which was burned by the Carthaginians in 406 BC, and the massive Temple of Olympian Zeus, intended to be the largest Doric temple ever built, to celebrate a victory over Carthage. The Temple of Concordia itself is a marvel of Doric architecture, measuring approximately 40 meters by 17 meters, with a colonnade of six columns on its shorter sides and thirteen on the longer ones. The structure stands on a four-step base designed to correct the unevenness of the rocky ground.