Parco Archeologico Selinunte
The archaeological grounds have three designated zones: The East Hill and temples, the Acropolis and ancient city, and the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophorus. You will likely start your visit from the East Hill, adjacent to the main entrance. Archaeologists are still trying to determine which deity each of the Doric temples was dedicated to—for now, they are simply denoted by letters of the alphabet. The East Hill was the sacred district of the city, with three temples surrounded by an enclosure. Temple E, which was in all probability dedicated to Hera (Juno), was built between 490 and 480 b.c and has a staggering 68 columns. The Metopes, reliefs that are the pride and joy of the archaeological museum in Palermo, are from this temple. Temple F is the oldest of the trio, built between 560 and 540 b.c.; in its original state, the temple had a double row of six columns at the eastern entrance and 14 columns on either side. Temple G, now an impressive heap of rubble except for a lone standing column, was destined to be of colossal proportions if it had been completed in 480 B.C.
The Acropolis, a district of gridlike streets surrounded by defensive walls, was the center of social and political life. Here atop a plateau stood most of Selinunte’s important public and religious buildings, as well as the residences of the town's aristocrats. Temple C, the earliest surviving temple of ancient Selinus, was built here in the 6th century b.c. and is still surrounded by 14 of its resurrected 17 columns. From the Acropolis, you cross the now-dry Modione River to the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophorus, the ruins of several shrines to Demeter, goddess of fertility. The custom was for worshipers to place stone figurines in the shrines to honor Demeter; as many as 12,000 such figurines have been unearthed.
The archaeological grounds have three designated zones: The East Hill and temples, the Acropolis and ancient city, and the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophorus. You will likely start your visit from the East Hill, adjacent to the main entrance. Archaeologists are still trying to determine which deity each of the Doric temples was dedicated to—for now, they are simply denoted by letters of the alphabet. The East Hill was the sacred district of the city, with three temples surrounded by an enclosure. Temple E, which was in all probability dedicated to Hera (Juno), was built between 490 and 480 b.c and has a staggering 68 columns. The Metopes, reliefs that are the pride and joy of the archaeological museum in Palermo, are from this temple. Temple F is the oldest of the trio, built between 560 and 540 b.c.; in its original state, the temple had a double row of six columns at the eastern entrance and 14 columns on either side. Temple G, now an impressive heap of rubble except for a lone standing column, was destined to be of colossal proportions if it had been completed in 480 B.C.
The Acropolis, a district of gridlike streets surrounded by defensive walls, was the center of social and political life. Here atop a plateau stood most of Selinunte’s important public and religious buildings, as well as the residences of the town's aristocrats. Temple C, the earliest surviving temple of ancient Selinus, was built here in the 6th century b.c. and is still surrounded by 14 of its resurrected 17 columns. From the Acropolis, you cross the now-dry Modione River to the Sanctuary of Demeter Malophorus, the ruins of several shrines to Demeter, goddess of fertility. The custom was for worshipers to place stone figurines in the shrines to honor Demeter; as many as 12,000 such figurines have been unearthed.
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