Originally, it was a sanctuary dedicated to Venus, the Goddess of fertility. Over the times it changed names and functions. In Roman times it was intended for the cult of Venus Erycina, where the art of sacred prostitution was practiced by the priestesses who lived there. In the Middle Ages (12th century) the Normans changed it into a fortress by using parts of the ancient Roman temple for its construction. The fortress became a "royal square" during the Aragonese domination until the 17th century. Under the Bourbons it became a prison. In the first decades of 19th century, it passed to Erice municipality, which gave it to count Agostino Pepoli by the end of the century in exchange for a restoration. Archeological excavations were carried out in search of the shrine temple in 1934-36.
