The fascinating story of the fall of the Roman praetor Gaius Verres in Agrigento, told through a short story that reveals the intrigues, corruption and courage of the Sicilian citizens. A tale of justice and rebirth under the Roman Empire.
Chapter I: The arrival of the Praetor
It was a warm spring morning in Agrigento, ancient Akragas, when the news of the arrival of the Roman praetor Gaius Verres spread like wildfire. The streets, normally bustling with the daily life of merchants and citizens, were filled with whispers and suspicious glances. Verres was known for his greed and corruption, and his arrival promised difficult times for the city.
Verres, a portly man with an air of arrogance, entered Agrigento triumphantly, surrounded by his escort of soldiers. His reputation preceded him: he was said to have plundered the provinces, stealing treasures and extorting money from citizens without any regard for law or justice.
Chapter II: The Sacking of the Temples
It wasn’t long before the fears of the inhabitants of Agrigento materialized. Verres, hungry for riches, immediately turned his gaze to the magnificent temples of the city.
Without any respect for the sacredness of the place, Verres ordered his men to plunder the temple. Statues, jewels, and precious votive offerings were taken away under the helpless eyes of priests and citizens. The shocked and furious people of Agrigento could do nothing but watch as their cultural heritage was stolen by an unscrupulous man. In the temple of Asclepiusthere was a statue, a work signed by the famous Myron, kidnapped by the Carthaginians during the occupation of the then Akragas, returned by Scipio Africanus after the destruction of Carthage and stolen again by Verres. Verres had attempted to steal the statue of Hercules from the temple of the same name, but his henchmen had been repelled by the people. He had also stolen gold and silver vases, candlesticks and all the precious furnishings from other temples and had forced the citizens of Agrigento to pay the “tithe” with arbitrary methods and taxation.
Chapter III: The Silent Rebellion
Not everyone, however, was willing to tolerate Verres’ actions. Among the citizens, a young lawyer named Lucius stood out for his courage. Lucius, a passionate orator and devoted to justice, decided to gather evidence against Verres. With the help of other citizens who were victims of Verres’ extortion, he began to document the praetor’s crimes. The protests of the people of Agrigento were of no avail and they entrusted themselves to the defense of their fellow citizen Sophocles, who went to Rome and presented himself to the consul Gnaeus Pompey.
News of Lucius’ actions soon reached Rome, where another man, famous for his eloquence and commitment to justice, took an interest in the cause: Marcus Tullius Cicero.
Chapter IV: The Trial
Cicero, a famous lawyer and future consul of Rome, agreed to represent the Sicilians’ cause against Verres. He decided to use Agrigento as the main example in his case, highlighting the atrocities committed by the praetor. Verres’ trial was held in Rome, and was one of the most anticipated events of the year.
During the hearings, Cicero meticulously exposed the evidence collected by Lucius and the other citizens of Agrigento. He vividly described the looting of temples, extortions, and cruelties inflicted on citizens. His fiery oratory and damning testimony put Verres against the wall.
Chapter V: The Fall of Verres
Cicero’s argument was so powerful and irrefutable that Verres, foreseeing certain condemnation, decided to flee Rome before the conclusion of the trial. His escape only confirmed his guilt in everyone’s eyes.
With Verres in exile and his reputation destroyed, Agrigento and the other cities of Sicily could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Justice, albeit late, had been served. Cicero, with his skill and commitment, had demonstrated that even the most powerful could be held accountable for their actions.
Epilogue: The Rebirth of Agrigento
After the fall of Verres, Agrigento began a slow but sure process of recovery. The citizens, inspired by the courage of Lucius and the justice achieved thanks to Cicero, worked together to rebuild their city and preserve what remained of their cultural heritage.
The story of Verres and the trial brought against him became an eternal lesson on the importance of justice and the fight against corruption. Agrigento, with its glorious past and his renewed spirit, continued to prosper, keeping alive the memory of those who had fought for his freedom and dignity.
And so, Agrigento, through the centuries, remained a symbol of resistance and hope, a city that had seen darkness but had found the strength to be reborn, like the Arabian phoenix from its ashes.
