My Sicily Trip 2007

Siracusa

This is the Greek Theatre (Teatro.) The largest one before the Greeks built one in Athens.It held 15,000, Plato even came for the drama.When we were there, they were getting it ready for the summer dramas, had covered some of the seats with wood.
These pictures are from the Archaeological Parco of Siracusa (Syracuse.) This is the "Ear of Dyonisius" where this Greek Tyrant imprisoned his enemies and hid in the top cave and listened for information to help him defeat their armies. Inside you can hear a whisper.
This is the quarry of the Capuchins,where prisoners were held. In 406 BC the big battle between Athens and Siracusa resulted in 40,000 Athenians being defeated ,leaving 7000 prisoners to die in this quarry.
These are some of the grottos at the top of the Greek Theatre. The grottos were shrines dedicated to their gods of the Arts.That's me looking out of the cave.
Siracusa was colonized in 734 BC by the Corinthians of Greece. During it's golden years, it had 1 million inhabitants.This is the "Street of Tombs." The caves were used for tombs and those ruts are there from ancient carts or carraiges coming to the theatre..
Here is the tomb of the Greek Inventor, Archimedes. Syracusa was his home town. Born in 287 BC he is credited with inventing the: lever, pulley, buoyancy, value of Pi, calculus & catapult.
This is the "Cave of the Ropemakers." Ropes were a necessity for the movement of the huge stones.There was always slaves making these ropes.
Here on the side of the Ropemaker's Cave, you can see the markes where the boulders were hewn.You can also see the enormous size of these caves with me at the bottom.
The Roman Theater is down the hill from the Greek Theatre. The Roman's had to make their own, because theirs was a complete circle and used for gladiator fights or their captives to be devoured by beasts.
The Alter of Heiron 11. It was built in 300 BC dedicated to Zeus. It was made with majestic columns, ornaments and statues to the gods.This was the alter for animal sacrifices.
The church has been destroyed many times by enemy forces and earthquakes. Underneath are catacombs that were used by the early Christians for a meeting place and later for burials.
Click on Pictures for Enlargement or Click on Flag for Ortygia!!
Church of San Giovanni.Originally the site of a temple of Bacchus, it became a Christian church in AD 44, possibly the 1st Christian church in western Europe. It is believed that the Apostle Paul preached here on his journey to Rome.