In the 12th century, the Normans built a castle over the temple, incorporating the Roman temple to Venus.

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Erice (also Eryx) is in western Sicily and was once home to the Elymian people, who allied themselves with the Greeks against their neighbors and also, at times, with the Carthaginians. The Romans later took control of the area and the island. Legend says that Aeneas, the legendary ancestor of the Romans and whose mother was the goddess Venus (Aphrodite to the Greeks) passed here on his way to finding a new home for his people after fleeing Troy when it was taken by the Greeks. Legend also says that he built a temple to his mother at Erice. In the 12th century, the Normans, who occupied Sicily at the time, built a castle over the temple, incorporating the structure into its own. The area was strategically good, as it provided a good lookout over eastern Sicily. The castle has been modified over the centuries and restored and is presented known as Venus Castle, a tourist destination. The photo dates to 1964.

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Size: 4260px × 4200px
Photo credit: © Ivy Close Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: aeneas, aphrodite, castle, elymian, elymians, erice, eryx, history, norman, normans, people, romans, sicily, temple, trojan, venus, war