Syracuse Cathedral (Temple of Athena)

Histories of early Christianity and the fall of the Roman Empire usually mention the conversion of Greek and Roman temples into churches. On paper, at least, it seems fairly simple: As the people converted, so did their places of worship.This spawned the "romanesque basilica" style of ecclesiastical architecture which, truth be told, was as much Greek as it was Roman. Yet the early Romanesque was little more than an imitation of the very first temples-cum-churches. While a number of these churches can be seen in the Mediterranean world, particularly in Greece and Italy, the most imposing of all is Siracusa Cathedral, which began its life as the magnificent, golden limestone Temple of Athena during the fifth century BC (BCE), dominating the acropolis on the highest point of the island of Ortygia.The site, including an area in front of the cathedral (indicated by an outline in the pavement) where excavations were undertaken some years ago to reveal an ancient altar, was a place of worship since the earliest days of Greek Syracuse and indeed in the times of the Sikels centuries earlier. Archeologists have concluded that at least two earlier temples stood here before this one – the Sikelian structure built as early as 1100 BC and then a Greek one erected circa 600 BC.