Selinunte

Welcome to Se-lee-noon-tay, one of the most breathtaking and expansive archaeological parks in the world. As you stand here on the southwestern coast of Sicily, you are at the edge of the ancient Greek world. …

Our first stop on the East Hill is Temple E, almost certainly dedicated to Hera, the goddess of women, marriage, and family. This is the only temple at Se-lee-noon-tay that has been fully re-erected, a process known in the…

Nearby stands the ruins of Temple G, one of the largest Greek temples ever constructed. It was so ambitious that it remained unfinished even after more than a century of building when the Carthaginians attacked in 409 BC. …

We now move to the Acropolis, the elevated plateau that served as the spiritual and defensive heart of Se-lee-noon-tay. Surrounded by thick fortification walls, this was the first part of the city to be settled and the last to…

Adjacent to Temple C on the Acropolis is Temple D, built toward the end of the sixth century BC and likely dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, or possibly Aphrodite. While little more than the foundations and…

A short distance from the main temples lies a unique sacred site: the Sanctuary of De-mee-ter Mal-o-for-os, the 'bearer of apples' and goddess of fertility. This was a rural sanctuary, located outside the main city walls on the…

To understand the silence of Se-lee-noon-tay today, we must revisit the tragic events of 409 BC. The city’s wealth and its alliance with Syracuse had long made it a target for the expanding power of Carthage. …

As we conclude our journey through the archaeological wonder of Se-lee-noon-tay, take a final moment to stand among the giants of the East Hill. We have traveled from the reconstructed majesty of Temple E to the gargantuan,…