Syracuse is a town with a millennia-long history, whose monuments attract and fascinate tourists from all over the world. Recently also Hollywood and its most famous fictional archaeologist were fascinated by the history of the most powerful of the Greek colonies and its impressive archaeological remains. The movie "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" the fifth chapter of the archaeologist's adventures, is extensively inspired by the history of Syracuse and its locations. Already starting with the plot that sees Indy on the trail of the most incredible of Archimedes' inventions (the genius from Syracuse who lived in the 3rd century BC) and continuing with the locations. The latest adventure of Dr. Jones takes him on a long journey with Sicily and the town of Syracuse as its destination. The people of Syracuse still vividly remember the film crew working in town. But where can you find the Syracuse locations used during the filming of Indiana Jones? In this post, we will try to provide some useful information for those who plan to visit Syracuse, follow in Indy's footsteps, and perhaps discover the miraculous dial of destiny created by Archimedes. We will try to avoid spoilers as much as possible for those who haven't seen the movie yet.
Where to Find Indiana Jones Locations in Syracuse?
The Ear of Dionysius
"Seek where Dionysius hears every whisper like a hurricane," this is the first clue that leads Indy to the town of Archimedes and more precisely to one of its most famous monuments, Dionysius's Ear, also known as the Ear of Dionysius in the film. The plot does not delve into the origin of the name of this real existing monument, but Indiana Jones and Helena Shaw enter the actual cave.
Dionysius's Ear was once an ancient stone quarry used in Greek times but with a peculiar shape resembling a pointed ear. And, like an ear, it has acoustic properties. The cave can amplify the voices of those speaking inside, as Indy and Helena also demonstrate in a scene from the movie. The cave's name derives from an ancient legend; it is said that the tyrant Dionysius used to imprison his enemies there to listen to their whispers thanks to the cave's properties.
The 
cave is now one of the most visited points of interest in the Latomia del Paradiso within the Neapolis Archaeological Park.
Dionysius's Ear is a place of great fascination, but for cinematic needs, the production decided to make it deeper and more complex, also showing glimpses of the nearby Cordari Cave. The long journey taken by the archaeologist inside the cave is purely fiction. There is indeed a hole in the cave's ceiling that allows a beam of light to enter... but don't think about climbing it like Indy on Archimedes' trail!
Hermes Sicily Tours organizes shared group guided tours at the Neapolis Archaeological Park during the summer months and the Christmas season, while a private tour guide service can be booked year-round. Our guides will also tell you anecdotes about Indiana Jones, Dionysius, and even... Caravaggio.
Archimedes' Tomb
At a certain point in the plot, our heroes will arrive to rediscover Archimedes' tomb. The search for Archimedes' tomb is, in fact, a topic that has fascinated scholars since ancient times and also the Roman orator Cicero himself searched for it, and we have dedicated a specific post on our blog about the location of Archimedes' tomb. Today, in Syracuse, there is a place traditionally called Archimedes' tomb, located within the latomie of the Neapolis Archaeological Park, but it is not the tomb depicted in the film, which is only a sarcophagus created for cinematic fiction.
The Maniace Castle
In addition to the archaeological park of Syracuse, the filming also involved the tip of the Ortygia Island, specifically the Maniace Castle. During the story, we even get to witness the real siege of Syracuse by the Romans at the end of the 3rd century BC, and several scenes are set inside Maniace Castle, especially along the bridge leading to the fortress and inside the Bourbon casemate called "Forte della Vignazza," characterized by a series of consecutive arches that are well shown in an action scene in the film. In this case, it is an anachronism because the oldest part of the castle is from the medieval era, specifically the Swabian period, and not from the Greek era. The views used for filming even refer to structures of the fortress built in the 17th-18th centuries, but thanks to special effects, they integrate seamlessly into the film's storyline.
Maniace Castle is one of the most picturesque monuments on Ortygia Island and a highly recommended destination for tourists visiting the city. With Hermes Sicily Tours, you can also book a guide to accompany you on a tour of Ortygia and Maniace Castle.
Syracuse from Above
Some aerial views of ancient Syracuse are captivating. These are mostly created with the help of computer graphics, although they partly follow the layout of the ancient city, with some artistic liberties and monuments out of context. The shape of the bay closely resembles the current Great Harbour of Syracuse, as well as the layout of the island of Ortygia, where the Maniace Castle stands out, built centuries later. Houses and temples are visible at a quick glance, while Syracuse lacks the large natural relief behind the city. Syracuse is indeed built near a plateau, the Epipoli, culminating in the Eurialo Castle, but the height of the relief is more modest, whereas the one shown in the film scenes rather resembles the rock of Cefalù. This is not surprising as several scenes were also shot in the town on the western part of the island.
Archimedes' Principle and Burning Mirrors
In addition to the filming locations, Indiana Jones 5 also pays homage to the genius of Archimedes with some references. This includes Archimedes' principle, one of the fundamental laws of physics explaining the buoyancy of bodies in a liquid, which is mentioned in the story's development. Likewise, during the battle scenes, you can see the famous burning mirrors with which, according to legend, Archimedes would have destroyed the Roman fleet. In the film, a marvelous invention of Archimedes, the Antikythera, is mentioned. Antikythera is not actually the name of an invention but the name of an island in the Peloponnese where an extraordinary Hellenistic-era shipwreck was discovered, carrying a mysterious mechanical mechanism on board. Scholars have long been puzzled by the purpose of this fragmentary mechanism, which is surprising for its complexity. Some have even hypothesized, without conclusive evidence, that the Antikythera mechanism could be a creation of Archimedes himself, one of the geniuses of the ancient world. This hypothesis has become one of the cornerstones of the film's plot.
Borrowed Locations: Cefalù and Segesta
Not all scenes set in Syracuse were actually filmed in Syracuse. Some shots were indeed filmed in other parts of Sicily, including some views of the historic center and the coast that are actually in Cefalù, including the famous cathedral. The archaeological park of Syracuse looks quite different from what is shown in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The temple visible in some scenes is, in fact, the one in Segesta. Syracuse has several remains of Greek temples, such as the Temple of Apollo and the Athenaion, incorporated into the cathedral, both located on Ortygia Island, or the Temple of Olympian Zeus, located a few kilometers from the city. However, none of these is shown in the film.
Concluding, the Neapolis Archaeological Park and the Ear of Dionysius, Ortygia and Maniace Castle, and even the so-called Tomb of Archimedes are the places to put on your list of things to see for a visit to Syracuse in the footsteps of Indiana Jones. But they are also places full of charm and rich in history that deserve a visit beyond their recent cinematic fame. Syracuse is a unique city, nestled between the Hyblaean Mountains and the blue of the Ionian Sea, with over 2700 years of history to tell.
Disclaimer: Film frames from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny are published in this article in low resolution for commentary and critique purposes and are protected by copyright. All rights are reserved to Lucasfilm Ltd. and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The images of modern Syracuse accompanying the article were taken by Hermes Sicily Tours.
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