Himera, currently known as Termini Imerese on the north coast of Sicily, was a Greek city founded in 648 B.C. by colonists from Zancle (Messina). Its location, the westernmost of all Greek cities on the island, made it a strategic point at the edge of the territory controlled by Carthage, which occupied the west. The […]
Magna Graecia
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
Colossal Telamon from the Temple of Zeus at Agrigento Restored to its Original Upright Position
After twenty years of study, research, and restoration, the “stone giant” of ancient Akragas has been resurrected. The “telamon”, one of the colossal anthropomorphic statues supporting the entablature of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Olympeion, symbol of the Valley of the Temples, has been returned to its upright position. The statue, nearly 8 meters […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
Researchers Decipher Golden Ratio in Famous and Mysterious Riace Bronzes
More than fifty years ago, in August 1972, the so-called Riace Bronzes were recovered from the Ionian Sea off Riace Marina, near Reggio Calabria, in southern Italy. They are two bronze statues considered masterpieces of classical Greek sculpture from the 5th century BCE. Despite decades of study, there are still unknowns about their origin and […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Fragment of the Frieze from the Temple of Zeus Found at a Depth of 9 Meters off the Coast of Agrigento
An exciting archaeological discovery recently emerged from the Mediterranean Sea after a meticulous underwater excavation and rescue intervention carried out off the coast of Agrigento in Sicily. A team composed of the Subacquei Nucleus of the Carabinieri Command, responsible for the protection of submerged cultural heritage, the Superintendence of the Sea, and the Diving Group […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Greek Tombs with Artifacts and Grave Goods Unearthed in Taranto, the Only Spartan Colony in Southern Italy
Taranto owes its origins to the Spartans who founded it in the 8th century BC with the name Taras (Τάρας). At that time, the Apulian city became one of the most important polis in Magna Graecia, asserting its political superiority over other colonies in the south. It is precisely from this period of splendor that […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Two Greek Doric Temples Unearthed in the Ancient City of Paestum in Italy
A campaign of stratigraphic excavations in the western area of the ancient Greek city of Poseidonia (Roman Paestum) has revealed the existence of two Greek Doric temples. This discovery sheds new light on the origins and urban development of the polis and provides crucial data for understanding the evolution of Doric architecture in Poseidonia and […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
New Structures Discovered in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily
Discoveries of new structures in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily Archaeological excavations can unearth valuable insights into ancient civilizations. However, digging an entire site is time-consuming, expensive, and risks damaging undiscovered artifacts or structures. Fortunately, geophysical techniques provide archaeologists with non-invasive tools to investigate sites beneath the surface. A recent study applied […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Major Roman Site in Sicily Reveals the Origins of Mediterranean Fish Salting Industry
Researchers from the universities of Cádiz and Catania are excavating the Portopalo di Capo Passero site in southeast Sicily to study the origin and development of the fish salting industry in the Mediterranean during the Greco-Roman period. According to archaeologists, Portopalo was the oldest known example of salting factories in the Central Mediterranean. Its origins […]
Posted inAntiquity, Archaeology
Votive Deposit with Evidence of Bull Sacrifice Found at Selinunte Site
In a previous article, we recounted how in 409 B.C., Carthaginian troops ravaged the Greek city of Selinunte in Sicily, killing or capturing over 20 thousand residents. A few thousand remained in the city as tributaries to Carthage. Years later, in 250 B.C., the entire population was relocated to Lilybaeum and would never return. Since […]
