Syracuse and Ortygia - Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica
Siracusa, Italy
08.09.2022
Syracuse and Ortygia: A Journey through Ancient History
In the southeastern coast of Sicily lies the magnificent city of Siracusa, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse and Ortygia. This ancient city, also known as the birthplace of famous mathematician Archimedes, boasts of a rich cultural and historical heritage that dates back to over 2,700 years.
The city of Syracuse was founded by Greek colonists from Corinth in 734 BC and quickly became one of the most powerful and important cities in the Mediterranean region. The city was strategically located on the coast, making it a major trading hub and a center for arts, literature, and science. Its historical significance and well-preserved ancient ruins have earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Syracuse is the Temple of Apollo, built in the 6th century BC and considered the oldest Doric temple in Sicily. The temple was dedicated to the Greek god Apollo and is a prime example of ancient Greek architecture. It is also said to be the place where Saint Paul preached during his stay in Syracuse.
The Agora of Syracuse, the ancient marketplace, was a bustling center of commerce and politics in the city. It was also a gathering place for intellectuals and philosophers, making it a hub of cultural exchange and innovation. Today, visitors can see the remains of the agora, including the ruins of the Roman Forum and the Temple of Zeus.
Ortygia, the small island just off the coast of Syracuse, was the original settlement of the city. It is connected to the mainland by three bridges and is home to some of the most impressive architectural wonders of the ancient world. The Duomo di Siracusa, a beautiful cathedral built on the site of an ancient Greek temple, is a must-see for visitors. The cathedral combines elements of Greek, Roman, and Baroque styles, and its interior is adorned with magnificent frescoes and sculptures.
Another must-see in Ortygia is the Fountain of Arethusa, a natural spring that was believed to be the source of the city's water supply. According to Greek mythology, the nymph Arethusa was transformed into a spring by the goddess Artemis in order to escape the advances of the river god Alpheus.
Today, Syracuse and Ortygia are not only popular tourist destinations but also serve as a living museum of ancient Greek and Roman history. Visitors can explore the ruins of ancient temples, theaters, and fortifications, or simply wander through the charming streets and piazzas of the city, admiring the blend of ancient and modern architecture.
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The site consists of two separate elements, containing outstanding vestiges dating back to Greek and Roman times: The Necropolis of Pantalica contains over 5,000 tombs cut into the rock near open stone quarries, most of them dating from the 13th to 7th centuries BC. Vestiges of the Byzantine era also remain in the area, notably the foundations of the Anaktoron (Prince’s Palace). The other part of the property, Ancient Syracuse, includes the nucleus of the city’s foundation as Ortygia by Greeks from Corinth in the 8th century BC. The site of the city, which Cicero described as ‘the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of all’, retains vestiges such as the Temple of Athena (5th century BC, later transformed to serve as a cathedral), a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheatre, a fort and more. Many remains bear witness to the troubled history of Sicily, from the Byzantines to the Bourbons, interspersed with the Arabo-Muslims, the Normans, Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty (1197–1250), the Aragons and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Historic Syracuse offers a unique testimony to the development of Mediterranean civilization over three millennia.
Syracuse ( SY-rə-kewss, -kewz; Italian: Siracusa [siraˈkuːza] ; Sicilian: Saragusa [saɾaˈuːsa]) is an historic city on the Italian island of Sicily and the capital of the province of Syracuse. It is notable for its rich Greek and Roman history, culture, and architecture, and as the birthplace and home of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes.
Located in the southeast corner of Sicily, next to the Gulf of Syracuse beside the Ionian Sea, Syracuse is situated on a drastic rise of land, with 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) depths just offshore. The city's attractive harbor and geographic location in the central Mediterranean drew ancient Greek colonists from Corinth and Tenea, who founded it over 2,700 years ago as an independent city-state.
Syracuse emerged as the leading city in Magna Graecia, which it dominated by the fourth century BCE, and served as one of the cultural and political centers of the broader Hellenistic world. Allied with Sparta and Corinth, Syracuse emerged as a power in the ancient Mediterranean and one of the foremost metropolises in the region. Described by Cicero as "the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all", it equaled Athens in size during the fifth century BC.
As a major player in seminal ancient events like the Sicilian, Pyrrhic, and First Punic wars, Syracuse was the last independent Greek power in Italy before its annexation by the Roman Republic in 212 BCE. It remained an important regional city within the Roman and later Byzantine empires, and under Emperor Constans II briefly served as the imperial capital (663–669). Palermo later overtook Syracuse in importance as the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1816, it joined Naples to form the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the largest sovereign Italian state by size and population until Italian unification in 1860.
Owing to its long history and cultural landscape, Syracuse is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site alongside the Necropolis of Pantalica. With around 115,000 residents, it is the fourth most populous city in Sicily. Syracuse was an early center of Christianity, being mentioned in the Biblical Acts of the Apostles as one of the stopping points in Paul's journey to Rome. Its patron saint, Saint Lucy, who was born in the city, is one of the best known virgin martyrs; her feast day, Saint Lucy's Day, is celebrated on 13 December.
