A Review of Passionate Patron: The Life of Alexander Hardcastle and the Greek Temples of Agrigento

Abstract

Richardson’s 143-page book provides an interesting account on the life of Alexander Hardcastle (London, 1872 – Agrigento, 1933), a rich English patron and archaeologist, who operated in Sicily during the early twentieth century. Son of Hernt and Marie Sophie Hardcastle Herschel, Alexander took his military service in the Royal Navy, gaining a thorough technical knowledge, which he successfully used in Sicily. After he obtained a passport in December 1920, Hardcastle moved to Girgenti (now Agrigento), where he purchased a new house, the so-called Villa Aurea , and allocated private funds to perform excavations and massive renovation works at the nearby Greek temples of Akragas . In particular, he restored eight columns of the Temples of Herakles  and Demetra , and excavated part of the ancient city walls in the 1920s. His activity caused a great sensation in both Sicily and Great Britain, as articles in newspapers clearly testify.