Who built this temple?
co-STRUI-to — the 'ui' forms a glide, spoken quickly. Stress on second syllable of 'costruito'.
Ask a guide or read from a sign when you want to know who commissioned or built a specific monument. Fundamental at any archaeological site. Opens up discussion of historical context.
In Italian archaeological discourse, 'costruire' (to build) is used for physical construction, while 'commissionare' or 'volere' is used for who ordered or funded it. The distinction matters — emperors 'commissioned' buildings but thousands of slaves and workers 'built' them. Guides often address both aspects.
Fu commissionato da un imperatore?
Was it commissioned by an emperor?
Many Roman monuments were imperial projects.
Ci sono più fasi di costruzione?
Are there multiple construction phases?
Many ancient buildings were built/rebuilt over centuries.
Chi erano gli architetti nell'antichità?
Who were the architects in antiquity?
Opens discussion of Roman architectural practice.
Southern Italy and Sicily were colonised by ancient Greeks from the 8th century BC — 'Magna Graecia' (Great Greece). The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily contains some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world — better preserved than many in Greece itself.