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Materials excavated from both Agrigento and Gela are found in the first two galleries. They include Bronze Age pots painted with red geometric designs, locally produced pottery, as well as Greek finds. One of the most interesting is the little head of a bull, hand-moulded in pinched terracotta.

The vase collection includes outstanding examples of Attic black-figure and red-figure vases as well as Hellenistic vases. The krater (a tall vase with a sturdy base and two handles), with a rare white background, shows the figures of Perseus and Andromeda.

Recovered from various temples at Agrigento, (including the Temples of Herakles and Demeter), these spouts, shaped like lions’ heads, were originally placed along the roof of temples, just above the cornice, to funnel rain water to the ground. Note that they were painted in bright colours, as were all of the elements of the temple above the level of the column capitals.

This reconstruction of the largest known Greek temple (see Temple of Olympian Zeus) helps us understand its once enormous size. Note the position of the 8-m (26-ft) tall gigante (giant stone figures) in relation to the massive columns. More than twice as tall, the temple’s columns measured 16.5 m (54 ft) and had a diameter of 4 m (13 ft) at their base.

Thirty-eight gigante once supported the entablature of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. A complete figure was reconstructed in the 1800s from various parts found on the site. Each figure was composed of several stones, covered with a smooth stucco overlay, and probably colour as well. Scholars still debate the exact form and position of the gigante , but it may be that they stood with feet splayed.

Described as an Ephebus (a youth taking part in a religious rite), this beautifully carved marble figure illustrates the transition from the static archaic style to the severe style. Note the fine modelling of the boy’s musculature and the movement of the figure, which dramatically contrasts to the almost Egyptian-like stilted and stiff figures of the former archaic style.

These particularly fine Roman mosaics from the 2nd century AD are made of tiny tesserae (tiles). They served as centrepieces to the decorative mosaic flooring of houses in the residential sector of the city.

Dating from the 2nd century BC, this sarcophagus was only discovered in the 1970s. The panels, carved in high relief, illustrate scenes from the child’s life and a detailed scene of the sick room, with the father pulling his beard in mourning.

Found in Eraclea Minoa, the fascinating Greek battle helmets are designed with ear holes, while the Roman ones have a top knot and finely chased rims.

The “Battle of the Amazons” (c.460 BC) design on this striking krater vase has been attributed to the Niobid painter. The artist skilfully created space on the curved surface by illustrating fallen bodies, bows and arrows, and other battlefield paraphernalia in rough perspective. The main scene shows Achilles killing an Amazon queen (and falling in love with her as he does so).