Selinunte Archaeological Park

BRIEF HISTORY

From the foundation to the conflict with neighboring Segesta, the intervention of Hannibal until its final destruction:
here 7 historical milestones that marked the birth, the rise and fall of one of West's largest Greek colonies ever.

STEP 1 - BIRTH OF SELINUNTE

650-628 B.C.
The colonists of Megara Hyblea (now Augusta), guided by the ecistas Pammilo, seek new markets in western Sicily: they found the colony of Selinunte, as rich emporium. The name would stem from "Selinon", which refers to the leaves of "apio", a wild parsley that grows abundantly along the banks and in the valley of river Modione.

STEP 2 - TWO CENTURIES OF PROSPERITY AND GROWTH

628 - 420 B.C.
Selinunte grows establishing itself as Apoikia and weaving political and commercial relationships with the Carthaginians, the Greeks, it builds the Acropolis, the Sanctuary of Malophoros, founds the sub-colony of Eraclea Minoa. It is the dawn of one of the most flourishing Greek colonies.

STEP 3 - THE CONFLICT WITH SEGESTA

413 B.C.
The expansionist ambitions of Selinunte come to undermine the territory of Segesta. After several battles, ended without serious consequences, it came to a confrontation between mighty alliances: Segesta, supported by Carthage and Athens, and Selinunte, supported by Syracuse, Agrigento and Gela.

STEP 4  - THE DECISIVE BATTLE AND THE DEFEAT OF SELINUNTE

409 B.C.
The battle marks the decisive victory of the Carthaginian Hannibal Magone, thanks to the non arrival of the auxiliary troops from Agrigento and Syracuse. Hannibal crushes and plunders Selinunte, saving only women and children. Thus this is the end of one of the West's most glorious Greek colonies.

STEP 5 - THE TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN SYRACUSE AND CARTHAGE

III CENT. B.C.
Selinunte attempts a revival, relying on the alliance with Syracuse still on. The tyrant Dionysius becomes the protagonist of several attempts to storm the promontory of Lilybaeum (now Marsala territory) and drive the Carthaginians out, but the failure of the military campaign leads to a peace agreement, and Selinunte ended up in the hands of Carthage.

STEP 6 - THE PUNIC AGE

III CENT. B.C.
Selinunte is rebuilt by the Carthaginians, but only in the area of the acropolis. They settle elements of Punic civilization, spread new cults, and the old city center of Manuzza becomes necropolis.

STEP 7- THE END OF SELINUNTE

III-II CENT. A.C.
During the First Punic War, Selinunte hopes in vain to break free from the yoke of Carthage with the help of the Romans. But the Carthaginians prefer to move their resources to Lilibeo, leaving Selinunte at the mercy of the Romans. Selinunte was never rebuilt and inhabited again. Thus this marks the end of one of the most glorious and important Greek colonies in Sicily.