Temple of Olympian Zeus

Agrigento, Sicily, 1998

This temple was to have been one of the largest in the Greek world. It was built to celebrate the Greek victory over Carthage at the battle of Himera (480 BC). Never finished, it collapsed in an earthquake and was later used as a quarry.

The plan of this temple was quite unique. Half-columns on the side (an unusual seven by fourteen count) were joined by a continuous wall on which were mounted "telamons," giant Atlas-like figures which helped to support the massive superstructure.