Selinunte

Selinunte
Σελινοῦς
The columns of the Temple of Hera were re-erected, but most of the roof is missing.
The Temple of Hera at Selinunte (Temple E)
Selinunte is located in Italy
Selinunte
Shown within Italy
LocationMarinella di Selinunte, Province of Trapani, Sicily, Italy
Coordinates37°35′1″N 12°49′29″E / 37.58361°N 12.82472°E / 37.58361; 12.82472
TypeSettlement
Area377 ha (930 acres) [1]
History
Founded628 BC
AbandonedApproximately 250 BC
PeriodsArchaic Greece to Hellenistic period
Site notes
ManagementSoprintendenza BB.CC.AA. di Trapani
WebsiteParco Archeologico di Selinunte (in Italian)
Plan of ancient Selinunte showing ancient coastline

Selinunte (/ˌsɛlɪˈnnt/ SEL-in-OON-tay, Italian: [seliˈnunte]; Ancient Greek: Σελῑνοῦς, romanizedSelīnoûs [seliːnûːs]; Latin: Selīnūs [sɛˈliːnuːs]; Sicilian: Silinunti [sɪlɪˈnuntɪ]) was a rich and extensive ancient Greek city of Magna Graecia on the south-western coast of Sicily in Italy. It was situated between the valleys of the Cottone and Modione rivers. It now lies in the comune of Castelvetrano, between the frazioni of Triscina di Selinunte in the west and Marinella di Selinunte in the east.

The archaeological site contains many great temples, the earliest dating from 550 BC, with five centred on an acropolis.

At its peak before 409 BC the city may have had 30,000 inhabitants, excluding slaves.[1] It was destroyed and abandoned in 250 BC and never reoccupied.

  1. ^ Morris, A.E.J. (2013). History of Urban Form Before the Industrial Revolution. Taylor & Francis. p. 53. ISBN 9781317885146. Retrieved 2014-10-10.