Syracuse Greek and Roman age to late antiquity

Archaeological itinerary

Apollo Temple

The Temple of Apollo , is located at the entrance of Ortigia just after the bridge that connects the island to the mainland.

It is dated to the beginning of the 6th century BC and is therefore the most ancient Doric temple in Sicily and more or less, the first which corresponds to the model of the temple surrounded by a peripteros of stone columns that became standard in the whole Greek world.

• It had very squat columns in a 6 x 17 arrangement. It represents the moment of transition in the Greek west between temples with a wooden structure and those built completely out of stone. The pronaos and the naos divided into three aisles by two internal colonnades of more slender columns. At the back of the naos was a closed space, typical of Sicelian temples, called an adyton.

In the sixth century, gorgoneia of a canonical "lion mask type" were ubiquitous on Greek temples, especially in and around Corinth. Pedimental gorgoneia were common in Sicily; probably the earliest occurrence being in the Temple of Apollo in Syracuse.It was placed in the fronton and now it is saved in the P. Orsi Museum. Around 500 BC,

they ceased to be used for the decoration of monumental buildings, but were still shown on antefixes of smaller structures throughout the next century.

Tempio di Athena

The Temple of Athena , whose columns are visible also today on the side of the Cathedral of Piazza Duomo, was built about 480b.C ( V b. C), maybe after the victory of the Greeks of the West against the Carthaginians. The Athenaion was a peripteral temple with six columns on the short sides and fourteen on the long sides, fitting the proportions of the classical canon developed on the Greek mainland. On the front, the intercolumniation at either edge was reduced, the canonical solution to issues of perspective. In total, the building was 22 metres wide and 55 metres long. The peristyle surrounded a cella with a pronaos and an opisthodomos,both featuring two columns in antis.

Plant of the temple of Athena

• The temple was converted into a Christian place of worship by the bishop Zosimo in the VII A.D. and parts of it are still found incorporated into the walls of the Cathedral of Syracuse

Pianta dell’antico santuario

The Temple of Jupiter, the oldest temple in Syracuse after that of Apollo in Ortigia, is located near the river Ciane and today is known as the "Temple of the two columns",

as only two huge columns remain to bear witness to his greatness.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus also called Olympeion ,built in the first decades of the 6th century BC, stands on a Knoll high compared to the plain below. It was a peripteral temple with six columns on the short sides and seventeen on the long sides

Plant of the Temple of Zeus in Syracuse

In Via Minerva, next to the Cathedral and at the Senate building are the remains of the Artemision

The Ionic Temple, whose dedication is still unknown, it was probably, like the one that preserves a short distance away, a Athenaion, the second in chronological order; is one of the rare examples of this order preserved in the West and dates the second half of the 6th century. The temple is actually a primitive Ionic Temple presenting architectural similarities with some great temples of Asia minor.

According to research by Luigi Bernabò Brea, the temple actually was never completed The base measures 59 x 25 m.

Fountain of Arethusa

• This ionic temple has to be related with the expulsion of the Mainland, from Syracuse around 500 BC and for the defeat of Syracuse by Hippocrates of Gela. Gelon, came to power, abandoned the project of ionic Temple preferring to start work on the construction of the Doric Temple of Athena (now Cathedral of Syracuse)

Reconstruction of the arrangement of the Athenaion and Artemision

There is speculation that the Artemision was dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis, protector of Syracuse, to which is related the myth of Arethusa, the nymph transformed into a source of fresh water that is still the symbol of the city.

In the spring of Arethusa it takes place the legend of Arethusa and Alpheus, one of the most fascinating myths of Syracuse

The fountain of ARTEMIS, recently restored to its former gloryby careful cleaning and restoration, occupies the central area of the Temple of Apollo and tells the story of the nymph Arethusa who escape from Alfeo protected by the goddess Diana. It dates back to 1906 and is the work of sculptor Julius Muskets, which in the early twentieth century worked in the nearby city of Catania. He built the fountain at the invitation of some notable Syracusans, among whom was also the noble Achilles Gargallo.

The fountain is South facing and highlights the figure of Diana, Goddess of the hunt, armed with bow and quiver, protector of Ortigia in Greek times. At his feet is there Arethusa stretching while transformation into source and man Alfeo stupefied by what is happening to his beloved. In the second order, the inside of the tub we find four Tritons jostle two seahorses and two pistrici rampant on the waves. The tank finally has some grotesque masks and crests imitating classical styling of forms. The fountain was built in reinforced concrete, both because of a lower cost Executive but also to follow the versatility that this construction technique allowed them to implement.

In the seventh century. BC the area of Piazza della Vittoria was inserted in the neighborhood Akradina (Akrades = wild pear) and formed the peripheral part. To the North the two belts, one of the necropolis and the other of the latomie, bordered the town. To the Northwest in the above archeological zone has been spotlighted on cable to Foundation of a temple. According to sources (Cicero and Diodorus Siculus) this would be a temple dedicated to Demeter and Kore, built in the fifth century. BC by Gelo as a Thanksgiving for the victory at Himera over the Carthaginians

In front of the temple, to the East, is the collection of an altar and to the North in the Out of the wall of Temenos are found remains of a monumental fountain which dates back to the fifth century. BC. It consists of a rectangular basin of m. 11.50 x 3.20 m, up 0.80 m, preceded by a paved area of the same size, used as a porch-Colonnade with six or maybe eight items, of which virtually nothing remains.

Behind the tub there was an environment probably destined to water reservoir whose area was rich.The fountain had a sacral function; It can be assumed that the ancient Syracusans you sourced to purify the animals for sacrifice; when its sacred meaning was exhausted, it is conceivable that women used to draw water.

Piazza della Vittoria

Near the temple a votive stipe and a deposit are found.Both contained several clay statues belonging to dee and now partly exposed to the "Paolo Orsi" Museum of Syracuse.The goddess is represented with modio, basket-shaped headgear or with high polo (circular veil), in hand now bears fruit as a votive basket containing figs and pomegranates, now the torch and the piggy.

Excavation of Victory Square in Syracuse: an ancient road from the Greek period, among the most important arteries of the city.

The Eurialo castle, wanted by Dionisio IL tyrant of Syracuse, located on the highest point (120 m s.l.m.) of the district Epipoli terrace about 7 km from Syracuse, in the

direction of the Belvedere village. This imposing military structure was built between 402 and 397 BC in order to protect the city from any military operations of siege or attack. Also it underwent several changes due to the new techniques of war such as the one introduced siege by Demetrius I of Macedon in the siege of Rhodes, 305 BC

drainer on the leonine head of the central tower

The Greek Theatre of SyracuseThe Greek theatre of Syracuse lies on the south slopes of the Temenite hill; It was first built in the 5th century BC, rebuilt in the 3rd century BC and renovated again in the Roman period. According to the tradition it was designed by architect Damocopo so Mirylla said, for having spread ointments ("myroi") at the inauguration.

It is certain that a theater in Syracuse Protoclassic period has been used ever since and it seems to have held the theatrical activity of Formide and Deinoloco, contemporary playwright Epicarmo.At Syracuse, Aeschylus put on "The Aitnans" (a tragedy written to celebrate the re-foundation of Catania with the name Aitna, or of a centre with the name of Aitna where the Catanian exiles had found refuge after the destruction of Chalcidean Katane at the hands of Hieron I), probably in 456 BC. Also The Persians, which had already been performed at Athens in 472 BC, may have been performed at Syracuse.

Plant of the Greek theater of Syracuse

It seems that the theatre has undergone a major restructuring in the 3rd century BC after 238 and certainly before the death of Hieron II the 215 b.c., in the form that we see today. Its construction was designed taking into account the natural shape of the

Hill Temenite, that the ability to make the most of the acoustics.

It has been suggested that in the 5th and 4th century BC there was a theater that hadn't yet the shape in a semicircle, which will become the rectory in the late 4th century BC and during the third century BC, but could consist of straight rows of seats, arranged in a trapezoid.

The most famous quarries in Syracuse are the latomie, used both as stone quarries that like ancient prisons. In fact as a result of the Athenian expedition to Sicily, and then a tough battle between Athens and Syracuse, the latomie became the place where Athenian soldiers were jailed. Cold in winter and hot in summer, be imprisoned in the latomie amounted to a death sentence: they were left to die of hunger and starvation, with no possibility of escape.

The ear of Dionysius (or ear of Dionysius) is an artificial cave that is located in the old stone quarry called latomia del Paradiso, under the Greek theater of Syracuse . Dug into limestone, is about 23 m wide by 5 to 11 m, and develops in depth for 65 m [1], with an "S" pattern which makes it also a place of acoustic amplification of sounds.According to legend, his donkey ear shape did coin the painter Caravaggio, who had gone into the city in 1608, the expression ear of Dionysius. According to tradition, in fact the tyrann Dionysius did dig the cave where prisoners had corralled, and lurking inside a cavity top listened to their speeches.

The Latomie of Syracuse probably dug from the 5th century BC, even if you don't have reliable information, and employed up to Roman times, definitely were used to build the District of Neapolis and then the fortifications of the city.

In this altar, probably dedicated to Zeus Eleutherios (deliverer) was celebrated the expulsion (in 466 BC) of the last tyrant of Dinomenidi, Thrasybulus of Syracuse, in honor of which was celebrated the feast of Eleutheria bulls with the sacrifice of 450 bulls; the size of the sacrifice would explain those of Ara. Diodorus Syculus attributes the construction work at Ierone II, saying it was long a stadium and was produced near the theatre

What remains today are almost exclusively basement structures, located at the bottom of the Rocky Hill Temenite twists down. The property in upper blocks was excised nearly completely in the 16th century to be reused in the construction of Spanish fortifications of the city.

The altar of Hieron II

L’Anfiteatro

The amphitheatre, unearthed in 1839 by Duke of Serradifalco, is dated in the age of Augustus or Julius-claudia( after deduction of the colony by Augustus, in 21 BC) or Julio-Claudian, especially on the basis of building technology (use of Opus reticulatum and strings stretched ashlars) and an inscription, found therein, of the Augustan age. It is largely carved into the rock and almost nothing remains of the upper part built.

It was used for gladatori games and fights among the beastsThe dimensions (od: m. 140x119) are substantial and make the eldest of the three existing amphitheaters in Sicily, according to Italy, only to Verona. The arena (m. 70x32) is bordered by a high podium; in the Centre, a large quadrangular, originally covered with a wooden floor, and connected with a moat from the South side, was intended for machinery used for performances

This monument was restored in 2015 and recently opened to the public

Il Ginnasio romano

The Roman gymnasium is a monumental complex of Syracuse, probably dating from the second half of the 1st century AD, but misidentified as gymnasium that includes a theater, a portico and a temple

The catacombs of Syracuse are subterranean burial grounds dating back to ancient times and the early Empire that the next late Empire and considered second importance and extension only to that of Rome . There are three groups of catacombs: those of santa Lucia (2nd century AD), the catacombs of Vigna Cassia and baby Jesus (3rd century AD) and the catacombs of San Giovanni (4th-5th century AD).

The catacombs of San Giovanni are known traditionally for hosting in the adjoining Crypt of San Marziano, the first bishop of Syracuse, the Apostle Paul, who preached to the first Christians of the West.

The beautiful marble sarcophagus was discovered in 1872 by Francis Xavier Carroll inside the catacomb ofSan Giovanni. Dated to the late age of Constantine (second half of the IV century BC), was used in the early decades of the 5th century for the burial of Adelfia, wife of "comes" Balerius "(Valerius); the names of the spouses rely on the inscription of the tabula ansata on the cover, while the clamshell Medallion in the center of the case keeps the portrait. The work of a Roman workshop, the sarcophagus is decorated with a continuous frieze on the chest consists of double register, with scenes from the old and New Testaments.

The sarcophagus is now in the Museo P. Orsi

Remains of frescoes (secc. VIII-IX) with the forty martyrs of Sebaste, a Byzantine Chapel in the catacombs of Saint Lucia in Syracuse

IlBagno di DafneIn 1934 (cf. Newsreel March 6, 1935), light in the current via Arsenale in Syracuse, were brought to light the remains of a small building that can be seen today within the archaeological area fenced-in which you have identified the so-called Greek arsenal -in front of the Royal St Lucia on Porto PiccoloAn uncertain step by Theophanes (Chronographia, I, 535) identifies in this small spa complex, whose name was associated with the myth of Daphne that probably there was depicted in a large fresco, the place where was assassinated the Byzantine Emperor Costant II ..

July 15 (or 15 September) of 668 Constans II was killed by –by a courtier a certain Andrea son of Troilus-that while the emperor was taking a bath in one of these spas, he poured upon the head, soapy water and then, taking advantage of his momentary blindness, punched him to death with a bronze vase. Shortly after the assassination, the Armenian General Mezentium, count (Comes) of Opsiciani, was proclaimed emperor by the troops stationed in Syracuse.The buildings show that they belong to middle Imperial age with subsequent Byzantine restorations have been lodged.

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Siracusa bizantina

• In 535 Syracuse was conquered, along with Sicily, by the Byzantine general Belisarius, sent on the island with the task to reconquer Italy and bring it under the influence of the Emperor of Byzantium, Justinian I. In 663, Emperor Constans II, for its precise political design with which he intended to defeat the Lombards into Italy and put the country under Byzantine domination, decided to transfer his imperial court in Syracuse; choice perfect in his eyes, because the city was near Rome and heavily hellenized, so Syracuse became at that time "the capital of the Empire of the Romans“ (663-668)

The ancient metropolis of Sicily lived alone her tragedy: hit daimusulmani of Giafar, the city resisted strenuously in the oldest diOrtigia, for nine months. Eventually

Siracusa in età araba

The ancient metropolis of Sicily lived alone her tragedy: invested by Muslims of Giafar, the city resisted strenuously in the oldest part of Ortigia, for nine months. Eventually collapsed the Tower the Grand Harbour, on 21 May of 878 was taken.