Nestled on a sun-baked ridge in Sicily, the Valley of the Temples isn't a valley of tombs at all, but a breathtaking necropolis for the gods. Its true tombs, the solemn resting places for Agrigento's ancient citizens, lie scattered in the surrounding hillsides. Here, you'll find the haunting Tomba di Terone, a towering monument of tufa stone that feels more like a temple to memory than a simple grave. Venture further to the vast Necropoli Paleocristiana, where early Christians carved entire cities of the dead into the rock—a silent, labyrinthine world of shelf-like loculi and arched cubicula, whispering of lives folded into the dusty earth beneath the watchful gaze of the Doric columns above.
Who Built Valley of the Temples tombs?
Who Built the Valley of the Temples Tombs?
The tombs in the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) in Agrigento, Sicily, were built by the ancient Greeks, specifically the colonists from the city of Rhodes and Crete who founded the city of Akragas (modern Agrigento) around 582 BCE. The most famous tombs here are the so-called "Tomb of Theron" and the extensive Hellenistic and Roman necropolises that surround the temple ruins.
Why Were They Built?
These tombs were constructed as final resting places for the city's elite, including wealthy citizens, aristocrats, and possibly rulers. They reflect the profound Greek cultural and religious practices concerning death and the afterlife. The grandeur of the tombs, often mimicking temple architecture, was intended to honor the deceased, ensure their memory endured, and provide a dignified space for the soul's journey to the underworld, in accordance with Hellenistic beliefs.
Other Related Constructions from the Provided List
The culture of building monumental, architecturally significant tombs for the elite connects the Valley of the Temples to other ancient traditions. While the Greek colonists of Sicily built these, other Mediterranean cultures created similar necropolises. Highly relevant examples from your list include:
- Lycia rock cut tombs - Another Hellenistic-influenced culture known for elaborate, temple-like facades carved into cliffs for their elite.
- Mycenaean tholos tombs - Representing an earlier but influential Greek tradition of monumental, beehive-shaped royal tombs.
- Naqsh-e Rostam - Though Persian, it features impressive rock-cut tomb facades for royalty, showcasing a similar impulse to memorialize power in death through grand architecture.
