The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is one of the most moving and mysterious places for true history enthusiasts, and for several years it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Here stand the Temple of Concordia, a structure that, thanks to its state of preservation, is considered one of the sacred places of ancient Hellas, the Temple of Demeter, and not far away the Temple of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux), perhaps actually dedicated to Persephone and Dionysus, the deities of the Earth.

The temples and their connection to the seasons

Beyond being sites of historical, cultural and artistic interest, the Sicilian temples take us back to the times when celebrations and festivals in honor of Autumn took place!

Autumn, the season of the grape harvest, hosted the great Dionysian Festivals, where through dances, music, banquets and sacrifices Dionysus was honored for the new wine. During the autumn season, every five years, the Greeks also celebrated the Hephaestia, festivals in honor of the god of fire Hephaestus, praised with processions, sacrifices and torch races.

The rites of the Thesmophoria

At the end of October, the Thesmophoria were celebrated, festivals dedicated to Demeter, goddess of grain and agriculture. Women were the true protagonists of this celebration, which took place over several days. The young women went to the goddess’s sanctuary, where the day was spent in fasting, accompanied by mysterious ritual practices. The third day of the festival featured a grand banquet accompanied by rites and sacrifices, during which the women prayed to the goddess to ensure a numerous and healthy offspring for all women.

Text and photos from the web.