Agrigento
On day three we picked up the famous Jeep (see the separate story) to drive to Agrigento the site of the most significant Greek ruins. These date back to the fifth century BCE and are perhaps on top of even older constructions.
Temple of Juno - around 450 BCE
Not for the first time I was struck by the persistence of religious structures. They are generally the most solidly built and the longest lasting of buildings. Temples, other places of sacrifice and mausoleums are built to influence or appease his Gods or in a vain attempt to secure a life after death. Thus they are remnants of mankind's attempts to influence the future, in this life or the next. The most ambitious of these is the Great Pyramid of Giza built during the late stone age. But the great cathedrals of Europe also comply.
It's obviously true that the slightest thing we do irrevocably changes the future. So these builders obviously achieved a world that would not have been without their efforts. In the world they created, through their influence on our distant ancestors, I'm writing this and you're reading it. But is this the world that they wanted or imagined? I somehow doubt it. The ancients were concerned with more immediate issues, like the success of next year's harvest; or victory over enemies; or to appease the elements; or to confirm power structures and maintain social elites; or to secure a place in their version of eternity after death.
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Temple of Concordia - 440-430 BCE
Later vandalised when turned into a Christian church but this probably accounted for its high degree of preservation
The bronze angel is a recent addition in 2011
That, in the world that their efforts led to, mankind might leave the planet or discover that our planet an insignificant speck amongst trillions of billions of other worlds, or that their imaginary gods play no role in earthquakes or storms or drought or in their day to day lives was not something the temple builders might have hoped for.
All in all, seeing man's early attempts at asserting a place in the universe the Valle dei Templi was a wonderful experience in the literal meaning of the word.
The day culminated in a very pleasant balmy evening in one of the best B&B's we have ever stayed in. I even got in a swim. I would recommend Villa del Sole to you if you want to visit the ruins in the Valle dei Templi but be aware that it is only suitable for those who are driving their own car (like the Jeep) as it's a bit difficult to access.