Temple of Apollo at Syracuse

The Temple of Apollo at Syracuse is located on the island of Ortygia, in the area of the earliest Greek settlement at the site. It was built of sandstone in the first or early second quarter of the 6th century BC. It is one of the first Doric-order temples to use stone rather than wood columns. The close placement of the columns shows the builders' concern with supporting the weight of the roof. This temple also shows possible influence from Asia Minor in typically Ionic features such as the the widening of the central intercolumniation and the use of three rows of columns along the front side. A particularly interesting feature is a damaged inscription carved into the top step of the stylobate along the front of the temple; it has been variously reconstructed to indicate the involvement of an architect (Epicles) and/or a sponsor, perhaps a tyrant (Cleo[....]es). The temple was later dedicated to Artemis in the time of Cicero and then converted into a Christian church, then into a mosque, then back again into a Christian church.