Abstract
According to literary and epigraphic sources, the institution of the gymnasion thrived in Sicily from the 3rd century BC onwards, in the realm of Hieron II as well as in the Late Republican Roman province. This paper critically discusses whether the boom of the gymnasion is also reflected in the archaeological record and the emergence of a clearly discernible building typology. Focusing on five cities of Hieron’s realm in eastern Sicily (Syracuse, Morgantina, Megara Hyblaea, Neaiton, and Akrai), it is examined whether gymnasia can be safely identified, what plan, decoration, and function they had, and whether changes between the 3rd century BC and later periods can be observed. It is shown that none of these cities provides evidence of a securely identifiable, fully known gymnasion, however.