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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Lorenzo Tondo in Palermo

Long-buried Atlas statue raised to guard Temple of Zeus in Sicily once more

The Atlas statue dates back to the fifth century BC.
The Atlas statue dates back to the fifth century BC. Photograph: Giuseppe Greco

A colossal statue of Atlas that lay buried for centuries among ancient ruins has been reconstructed to take its rightful place among the Greek temples of Agrigento in Sicily, after a 20-year research and restoration project.

The statue, standing at 8 metres (26ft) tall and dating back to the fifth century BC, was one of nearly 38 that adorned the Temple of Zeus, considered the largest Doric temple ever built despite never being completed.

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