Archaeological site of Selinunte

Selinunte, also known as Selinus in ancient Greece, is an important archaeological site in southwestern Sicily, Italy. It was once a prosperous ancient Greek city founded in the 7th century BC. It was proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 but was not retained.

The city existed for more than four centuries before being abandoned. Selinunte flourished as a prosperous Greek colony during the period from its founding to the 5th century BC. At that time it was an important cultural, economic and political center in southwestern Sicily.

Unfortunately, Selinunte was conquered and largely destroyed in 409 BC by the Carthaginians , a rival power in the region. Although the city was later rebuilt , it lost much of its former glory and influence. After further conflicts and changes of rule over the following centuries, Selinunte fell into decline.

Eventually , over time, the city was abandoned and buried under sand and vegetation , including the temples.

The remains of Selinunte were only rediscovered by archaeologists in the 19th century .

The archaeological site of Selinunte includes the ruins of the ancient city , including several Greek temples, city walls, houses and other structures. One of the most notable features of the site are the well-preserved Greek temples , including the temples of Hera, Apollo, and Temple E

The vast archaeological site is divided into three sectors : the temple zone, the acropolis and the sanctuary of Malophoros.

A video reconstruction of Temple C can be found here.

Willem Vandenameele