THE ANCIENT AGKIGENTUM.

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the splendour of the ancient Agrigentum byviewing from the immediate vicinity of themodern city the surrounding ruins, composedas they are of the broken magnificence of tem-ples and other monuments. It was most de-servedly held, after Syracusa , the next in therank of Sicilian cities.

The ruins of one of the principal build-ings, the temple of Juno Lacinta , are situatedat the south-eastern extremity of the city;it was elevated upon a stylobates , or plinth,ten feet in height, which served as a base,and was of the Doric order and fluted, havinga portico of six columns in front, and thir-teen on the sides. Although this superb mo-nument is in a state of great decay, it yet pre-sents the most imposing and the most pic-turesque appearance.

We read in Pliny , that the Agrigentines pre-served within this temple of Juno one of themost precious paintings of antiquity, represent-ing the goddess herself, which was executedby Zeuxis , who flourished about 470 years B. C.This incomparable artist succeeded in enduingthis deity with a character and grace almost di-vine ; and the means he employed to attain this