by A.E. Albert
@aealbert23
6 Things to Know About
Syracuse, Italy
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My novel, The Time Sphere, takes place in many settings in history. One of my book's characters lived in the ancient city of Syracuse, located on the island of Sicily. Research for my book lead me to many interesting tidbits about this great and fascinating city.Here's a few facts about Syracuse:
1. At ancient Syracuse's height, it had a population of 300,000 people and was the largest city in the known world at the time.
2.It is the birth place of the famous mathematician and inventor, Archimedes.
3. In 212 BC, the city was overtaken by the Roman Empire. Although the Roman soldiers were ordered to keep Archimedes alive, a disobedient soldier killed him. As the soldier stepped on the inventor's drawings, Archimedes last words were, 'Don't disturb my circles.'
4. During the Roman era, the apostle Paul visited Syracuse and Christianity gained a foothold in the area.
5. There are many archaeological sites found in Syracuse:
- Temple of Apollo- 7th century BC.
- Greek Theater- 5th century BC.
- Ear of Dionysus- 20m high arch cut into a face of rock.
- Roman Amphitheater- 3rd century AD.
- Fountain of Arethusa
- Cathedral built on the site of a temple of Athena.
6. Today, Syracuse is a significant industrial, commercial, and agricultural city. Due to this status, it is now considered a major city in Europe and a popular tourist attraction.
About A.E. Albert
