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Agrigento
Agrigento was among the last colonies established by Greeks in the West, and it became one of the richest. Named after the nearby river Akragas, the city was founded about 581 BC by Greek settlers from Gela and the island of Rhodes.
The landscape proved perfect for the location of a city-high ridges adjacent to rivers flowing into a fertile plain leading to the sea several miles away. These shores form one of the most suitable harbors along Sicily's southern coast and offered the colonists ready access to trade with Greece and lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea.
The region's abundant agricultural resources-fields of grain, vineyards, and hillsides planted with olive trees-contributed to Agrigento's riches. Breeding and racing of horses was also highly regarded, and as a result, the city was known for its victories in chariot races held at Panhellenic festivals, like the Olympic Games.
Masterworks of art from the Regional Archaeological Museum of Agrigento attest to the fame and fortune of ancient Greek Akragas. The Youth of Agrigento [cat. no. 72] is one of the most notable monuments of Western Greek art.
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Taranto
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