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Agrigento

Agrigento
Comune
Città di Agrigento
Agrigento as seen from the Temple of Hera (Juno) in the Valley of the Temples.
Agrigento as seen from the Temple of Hera (Juno) in the Valley of the Temples.
Coat of arms of Agrigento
Coat of arms
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Agrigento
Location of Agrigento in Italy
Coordinates: 37°19′N 13°35′E / 37.317°N 13.583°E / 37.317; 13.583
Country Italy
Region Sicily
Province / Metropolitan city Agrigento (AG)
Frazioni Fontanelle, Giardina Gallotti, Monserrato, Montaperto, San Leone, Villaggio La Loggia, Villaggio Mosè, Villaggio Peruzzo, Villaseta
Government
 • Mayor Calogero Firetto (UdC)
Area
 • Total 245.32 km2 (94.72 sq mi)
Elevation 230 m (750 ft)
Population (31 March 2016)
 • Total 59,791
 • Density 240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Agrigentines, Girgintans
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 92100
Dialing code 0922
Patron saint St. Gerland (Gerlando)
Saint day 24 February
Website Official website

Agrigento [aɡriˈdʒɛnto] About this sound listen  (Sicilian: Girgenti) is a city on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy, and capital of the province of Agrigento. It is renowned as the site of the ancient Greek city of Akragas (also known as Acragas (Ἀκράγας) in Greek, Agrigentum in Latin and Kirkent or Jirjent in Arabic), one of the leading cities of Magna Graecia during the golden age of Ancient Greece with population estimates in the range of 200,000 to 800,000 before 406 BC.

Agrigento was founded on a plateau overlooking the sea, with two nearby rivers, the Hypsas and the Akragas, and a ridge to the north offering a degree of natural fortification. Its establishment took place around 582-580 BC and is attributed to Greek colonists from Gela, who named it Akragas.

Akragas grew rapidly, becoming one of the richest and most famous of the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia. It came to prominence under the 6th-century tyrants Phalaris and Theron, and became a democracy after the overthrow of Theron's son Thrasydaeus. At this point the city could have been as large as 100,000 to 200,000 people. Although the city remained neutral in the conflict between Athens and Syracuse, its democracy was overthrown when the city was sacked by the Carthaginians in 406 BC. Akragas never fully recovered its former status, though it revived to some extent under Timoleon in the latter part of the 4th century.


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