As can be deduced from its stout forms, the Temple of Heracles is the oldest temple in the valley it was erected half a century before the other temples. One of the Temples of the Valley is dedicated to the strong son of Zeus.
The Greeks also loved to stress their favourite hero’s links with the territories he crossed and Sicily was no exception: infact, it was told that Hercules, on his way home after his tenth exploit “The Cattle of Geryon“ travelled far and wide over the Isle of Sicily. Endowed with godlike strength, his “Twelve Labours” are a fascinating cultural topic which helped to define the Greek identity, as the Greek population strongly identified with his lust for power. Hercules (or Heracles) is surely the most loved hero of Greek mythology.
