Explore the amazing ruins of an Ancient Greek city on the southern coast of Sicily.
Now a small seaside town for vacationers, Selinunte was once one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily, part of Magnae Graecia (Greater Greece).
As the most western Greek city in Sicily, Selinunte often had frequent contact with the Phoenicians that settled in Western Sicily and the local Sicilians. They fought with locals. They fought against other Greeks. They allied with Carthage (famous Phoenician city in Africa) and were later captured by that city. During the First Punic War when Carthage and Rome were fighting, Carthage moved all the residents of Selinunte to Lilybaeum (today’s Marsala, Sicily) and destroyed the city. It looks like the Selinunte was never rebuilt. The Romans never mention people living there.
Today, a visitor can explore a vast ruined acropolis, a reconstructed temple and two temple complexes.
Selinunte’s crown jewel is the Temple of Hera (a.k.a. Temple E), the first stop. Dating to the 5th century BCE, it was reconstructed using original materials in the 1950s. Also note the adorable site dogs on the steps. They followed us all the way from the entrance asking for pets. Site dogs and cats are very common in Mediterranean countries.
The interior of the Temple of Hera.
Such a gorgeous temple. It was controversial when they reconstructed it, however, I’m glad they did.
The next two temples are in complete ruins though. The site dogs in action again.
Not much remains of Temple F, which may have been dedicated to Athena, Hercules or Dionysus.
Even less remains of Temple G, the Olympieion. It would have been one of the largest in the Greek would though, similar in design to the Temple of Apollo at Didyma.
The Temple of Hera again. The sun somehow came out.
Now heading to the acropolis, the main part of town.
This path was a slippery death trap but it sure was pretty.
The acropolis was surrounded by fortifications of course. It didn’t spare the city from the Carthaginians though.
More ruined temple complexes are found here as well.
Ruins and a bit of reconstruction.
Temple B is very small and hard to see. At the top, you can see the altar of the temple, which sat inside of a temple building on top of a platform (at the bottom of the photo).
A closer look at Temple B’s altar.
Row of buildings by the temples.
The only bit of the temples that was reconstructed on the acropolis belonged to Temple C, the oldest, dating to the mid-6th century BCE.
Temple D is adjacent to Temple C, so adjacent you could walk between the two without touching the ground. Temple D was dedicated to Athena.
The ruined streets of the Acropolis.
Ruined blocks.
All overgrown.
Not all excavated.
City gate leaving the fortified acropolis.
Some of the paved road still survives here. Pretty cool.
There was a moat and draw bridge.
The next destination, the Sanctuary of Malophoros. It was a very long walk.
The Sanctuary of Hera Matronly, early 6th century BCE.
The Sanctuary of Malophoros, with the Temple of Hekate in the center.
Another building in the sanctuary, the Megaron of the Malophoros. Very cool.
Selinunte is a great archaeological site to go explore in Southern Italy. It’s not hard to reach even in the winter, which amazed me. Buses run from nearby Castelvetrano multiple times a day and come all the way from Palermo in the summer.
For Selinunte’s official website.
Check out my next update where I visit more ruins at the Valley of the Temples!
Or
Explore more Ancient Greek and Roman ruins in Ephesus, Turkey!
