Presentation for Cities telling their stories in a strategic partnership Erasmus+

1. Syracuse Greek and Roman age to late antiquity
Archaeological itinerary

2. 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.

3. • 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. Plant of the Temple of Zeus in Syracuse

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

12. The fountain of ARTEMIS, recently restored to its former glory
by 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

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

17. 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

18. drainer on the leonine head of the central tower

19. The Greek Theatre of Syracuse
The 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.

20. 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.

21. Plant of the Greek theater of Syracuse

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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 beasts
The 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

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

28. 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

29. 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).

30. 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.

31. 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

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

33. IlBagno di Dafne
In 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 Piccolo
An 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 .
.

34. 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.
.

35. 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)

36. 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.