Rediscovered terracotta head of the Goddess Athena at the Valley of the Temples

The Valle dei Templi It houses an extraordinary archaeological park of Sicily characterized by the exceptional state of conservation and a series of important Doric temples of the Hellenic period. Besides being considered a wonderful tourist destination, it is also a popular stop for archaeologists and scholars from all over the world.

During excavations near Temple D of Agrigento, a research team of the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, has brought to light a terracotta brim of the goddess Athena, dating from the end of the sixth and the beginning of the fifth century B.C. The discovery opens to completely unexpected religious scenarios, Indeed, the discovery would allow to attribute the cult of the temple in question to Athena and not to Hera as done so far.

The head was found as part of the third excavation campaign carried out in the southeast corner of temple D, under the scientific supervision of Professor Gianfranco Adornato and Maria Concetta Parello, archaeologist of the Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples. In addition to the head of Athena was also found an arm with the aegis and tight fist in the attitude of attack, element that "If supported by other archaeological evidence - as Professor Adornato said - the cult of Athena in the sanctuary of temple D on the southern Hill will definitely replace the naming of the temple in Hera Lacinia.“