- UNESCO
Archaeological site, Syracuse (SR)
37°04′24″ N, 15°17′08″ E
No photo on Wikimedia Commons yet
Archaeological site
Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore
Temple of Demeter and Kore
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Dedicated to
- Demeter
- Dedicated to
- Persephone
- Coordinates
- 37°04′24″ N, 15°17′08″ E
About
The Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore was a sanctuary in ancient Syracuse in Sicily, Magna Graecia, dedicated to Demeter and Kore (Persephone).
The sanctuary was founded on the Ortygia in the Piazza Archimede. Numerous female terracotta figurines from the 8th-century BC has been excavated. The sanctuary was moved to the acropolis of Syracuse in the 5th century BC.
The cult of Demeter was benefited by Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse, as a way to unite the Greek population during his expansionism on Sicily. Gelon was the hereditary chief priest of Demeter's cult in Gela, a cult that was popular also in Syracuse and Camarina, and he used the Demeter cult as well as the fight against Carthage to unite Syracuse, Gela and Camarina. After his successful war against Carthage, Gelon used the spoils of war to finance the new sanctuary of Demeter in Syracuse.
The new sanctuary was situated below the Piazza Vittoria in Syracuse. Remains has been found of a large sanctuary including a temple stereobate and the foundations of an altar. A great quantity of votive material has been found on the site. The sanctuary was described by Plato as the location of the city Thesmophoria.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
SiracusaTrain, nearest
600 m as the crow flies
Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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The town
Things to see in Syracuse115,515 inhabitants, 17 m above sea level. 106 historic places in the town.PhotoAgostino Artnoir Sella, CC BY-SA 2.0106 placesNearby
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More archaeological sites in Sicily
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore?
Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore is in Syracuse, in the province of Siracusa (Sicily), Italy. GPS coordinates: 37.07333, 15.28556.
What else is there to see near Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore?
Nearby you’ll find: Museo archeologico regionale Paolo Orsi (300 m away), Catacombs of San Giovanni Evangelista (400 m away), Catacombs in Syracuse (400 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 5 photos
- Demeter-Koreheiligtum (Syrakus) — Rabax63, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Legende-Demeter-Koreheiligtum (Syrakus) — Rabax63, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ex voto ritrovati a Piazza della Vittoria — Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Scavi di Piazza della vittoria 01 — Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Veduta aerea degli scavi di piazza della Vittoria — Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences