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Temple
of Juno was erected in the 5th century BC in the highest point
in the valley and dedicated to Hera Lacinia. It was set on fire by
the Carthaginians in 406. The Greeks celebrated marriages after a
ritual of appeasement in this temple that was dedicated to the goddess
of marriage and childbirth.
Temple of Concorde is found along Via Sacra and was also built
around the 5th century and is the only one to remain relatively intact
possibly because it was converted to a Christian church in the 6th
century. The temple got its name from a Latin inscription found near
the temple.
Temple of Heracles (Hercules) This was the first temple built
and was dedicated to Hercules who was the national hero of Sicily
and Agrigento in particular. Inside the temple there was a bronze
statue of this character. The temple was destroyed by an earthquake
and now only 8 of its original 38 columns remain.
Temple of Zeus (Jupiter) was built to thank Zeus for their
victory against the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 BC. One of the
features of this temple was the telamons, which are giant human figures,
used between each column to support the building.
Temple of Castor and Pollux (Dioscuri) dedicated to Leda (the
queen of the Spartans) and Zeus’s twins. This temple is now the symbol
of Agrigento and has only four remaining columns.
Temple of Vulcan Very little is left of this temple that was
built in the 5th century that must have been a very imposing sight.
Traces of an earlier temple have been found beneath its foundations.
Temple of Asclepius (Esculapius) was built well outside the
city walls and was a place visited by sick pilgrims hoping to be cured.
The temple walls were covered with messages from those who had been
cured.
The Tomb of Theron, was built near the Porta Aurea and is a
significant monument built from local volcanic tuff. The tomb is pyramid
shaped and was built to honour the dead from the 2nd Punic war.
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Temple of Concorde
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Temple
of Juno
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Temple of Castor and Pollux
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Temple of Heracles (Hercules)
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