Valle dei Templi
In southern Sicily, south of the town Agrigento lies a dale of flat land. Here more than anywhere in southern Italy are the signs of that classical Greek occupation still visible. Agrigento became one of the wealthiest polis in Magna Graecia, though it came with the price of conflict with the native Sican people. Sicily was marked by its history of tyrant and oppressors—Agrigento is no exception. The cruelty of Phalaris and his Brazen Bull is still by the modern inhabitants of the city, which might explain why the city remains sceptical to their Hohenstaufen King returning from north.
Beginning in the 6th century BC the Greco-Punic Wars ignited Sicily, and many bitter battles were fought over the following centuries. One of these was the Battle of Himera where the Tyrant of Agrigento, Theron joined forces with Tyrant of Syracuse, Gelon to oppose the Carthaginians forces. Through Theron intervention the Greeks won the day, and many slaves and bounty was gained. Theron had a mind to put these resources to use and thus ordered the construction of many new in 480 B.C.
Thus, the first stones of what is today called the Valley of the Temple were laid by Carthaginians slaves. Agrigentines were already famous for their huge building project, which Plato praised them for. Theron thus made plans for numerous temples, one which would be among the biggest in the world. Yet Theron would not live to see any of the temples’ completion. Worse yet, his son and successor who had been made tyrant of Himera feel into a bloody conflict with the tyrant of Syracuse— the Agrigentines succeeded in breaking out of his yolk and expelled him, first after this could the temples be completed. Though the massive temple of Zeus would prove too costly and be abandoned half-way through.
In 1220, seven of these temples remain. Though each bare many scars from the passage of time and untold conflicts—including a Carthaginians siege and plundering. Most intact of them is the Temple of Harmonia. The reason for this is that the temple was converted into a Christian Basilica in the 6th century and dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul. So, it has been upkept and altered to accommodate the needs of the clergy. It has a divine aura of 4 and still used to this day. Where in ancient day Harmonia joined two into one in marriage, the Lord now does the same.
Next to the temple lies it twin, though only a few pillars remain of her. It was dedicated to Hera, and bare resemblance to that in Crotone. The oldest temple is that of Heracles, it was the most patronized by the Romans—though as the Empire turned Christian it was abandoned too. Another temple was dedicated to other Heroes— Dioscuri, the divine twins Castor and Pollux. Here they were beseeched for as chthonic protectors of sailors, unlike the cavalry gods whose cult was so popular in Rome. Likewise, there was a temple of Hephaestus, perhaps connected to his forge powered by Mount Etna. It remains unexplored if the founder Verditius visited the temple as part of his apprenticeship. A Temple of Asclepius marks the entrance to the valley, here sick where once mircalously cured in their dreams. Yet now none flock to the lonely pillars that dot the valley.
The largest and most imposing temple was to dedicate to Olympeion Zeus. Much of it was completed, but never its roof. Statues, walls and pillars are all that remains in 1220. They mark a square vast field, an impressive testament of the size of construction. On the walls depictions of the Gigantomachy as well as the fall of Troy are still visible. Besides the temples there is also the mausoleum of Theron. Built after his son’s exile by the Agrigentines. It’s a square sealed-up tower.
The valley has a magical aura of 3, which increases to 4 in the Olympeion field. The valley might make for a good covenant site, though its openness and the small church might require dealing with first.
Story Seed: Torments of the Tyrant
Inside his tomb the ghost of Theron remains, sealed away from the world. He quickly came to the conclusion that since he promised the Gods temples after his great victory, he was punished by them to remain on earth until their completion. Yet the temples (with a sole exception) were completed, and he remained, just as bound. Now a millennium has passed and his desire to final see Elysium has driven him half mad. Day from day he pivots between two theories on he may pass on. The first being that the temple of Olympeion Zeus must be built. Second that the ghost of his son Thrasydaeus also remain and must be punished by him. Thrasydaeus was eventually executed in Megara, Greece, though Theron is unaware of this. Theron is desperate and likely to make bargain with anyone who encounters him.