Giant ancient Greek statue returns to Sicily’s Valley of the Temples

A giant statue dating back about 2,500 years has been restored to Sicily's Valley of the Temples, an archeological site which ancient Greek poet Pindar described as "man's finest city."

The 8-metre-high representation of the mythological giant Telamon once supported the temple of Zeus, one of the famed Doric constructions on the site that art historians consider the principal ancient Greek historical record outside Greece itself.

"Telamon will become … the new international ambassador of an archaeological site with no equals worldwide," said Sicily's cultural heritage councilor Francesco Paolo Scarpinato.

The stone statue returned to guard the temple on Thursday, following 20 years of restoration work. In ancient times the giant was one of numerous Telamon statues that were part of the temple's structure.

It was reassembled from 90 fragments from the...