Archaeological Park of Segesta

Legend says that it was founded by survivors of the Trojan War led by Aeneas, who, before arriving in Rome, left behind a large colony of his fellow citizens, including his old father.

Segesta was founded by the Elymians . It is unclear whether they came from the peninsula (now Italy) or from Troy. They were not subordinate to Sicilian-Greek culture like other indigenous populations. They maintained relations with neighboring civilizations, but always tried to have autonomy. This brought them into conflict with the Greeks in alliance with the Punics and with the Punics in alliance with Rome.

Segesta quickly became a powerful city. The main elements of Segesta are the theater, the temple, the Agora and the sanctuary of the Mango district. They clearly represent the functions of worship, representation and politics. The oldest houses date from the 6th century BC.

The temple , of the Doric type, stood in a suggestive location outside the city , on a hill clearly visible even from afar.

The city itself was located in a valley surrounded by 2 hills . A wall with gates was built in certain places (the first wall - 5th century BC), followed later by a second wall at a higher height (2nd century AD).

The city was destroyed by the Syracusan tyrant Agatochles in 307 BC and later rebuilt. The city grew further in the Roman period, but was then abandoned. In the 12th century, a Muslim community settled in the deserted Segesta. They built a mosque and a cemetery called "Calatabarbaro" . A century later, a castle was built on Monte Barbaro with fortifications around the existing houses, as well as the San Leone Church in 1442, but by then the mountain was already abandoned.

Willem Vandenameele